PCT
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
` (11) International Publication Number:
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 7 :
` A1
`G06F 17/30
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`26 March 2000 (26.03.00)
`
`
`WO 00/58866
`
`5 October 2000 (05.10.00)
`
`(81) Designated States: AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AT (Utility model),
`AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU,
`CZ, CZ (Utility model), DE, DE (Utility model), DK, DK
`(Utility model), DM, DZ, EE, EE (Utility model), ES, F1,
`F1 (Utility model), GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID,
`IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT,
`LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL,
`PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SK (Utility model), SL,
`TJ, TM, TR, 'I'I‘, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW,
`ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ,
`UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD,
`RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK,
`ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI
`patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR,
`NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`09/277,321
`
`26 March 1999 (26.03.99)
`
`US
`
` (30) Priority Data:
`
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): TARGET—
`MATCH LTD. [IL/IL]; Rothschild Boulevard 86A, 65787
`
`Tel Aviv (IL).
`
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`
`
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): LITVAK, Muly [IL/IL];
`
`
`Rothschild Boulevard 86A, 65787 Tel Aviv (IL). LEVY,
`Anat [IL/IL]; Budenheimer Street 11, 62008 Tel Aviv (IL).
`
` Published
`
`
`(74) Agents: COLB, Sanford, T. et al.; Sanford T. Colb & Co., P.O.
`Box 2273, 76122 Rehovot (IL).
`
`With international search report.
`
`(54) Title: MULTI—LINGUAL ON—LINE OBJECT MATCHING
`
`
`
`-_._....-_..-__...--..‘.23
`_
`155
`’QgflF-EflME‘El-mms 1‘5.'W~w—N-m§—W~E§m«
`ESSENTIAL
`NONvESSENTlIAéf
`ATTRIBUTES
`A‘n’RmmEs
`AnRIaurEs
`———-—
`.Bfififiiflngfimwmw
`ESSENML
`AHRJBUTES
`
`CLIENT COMPUTER
`
`(57) Abstract
`175
`A method and system for on~line interactive r—\
`object matching (110),
`including entering subscriber
`data (105)
`into a subscriber database by means of
`a form page, using a first
`language,
`the subscriber
`database storing subscriber data ( 105), the subscriber
`data (105) including subscriber identification attributes
`(115 and 125)) and subscriber request attributes (120
`and 130), searching an object database to find data for
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`at least one candidate object (110) wrthm the object
`database,
`the object database storing object data,
`the
`object including object identification attributes (115 and
`125) and object request attributes (120 and 130), and
`the at least one candidate object being characterized
`m that
`its 1dent1fication attributes (115 and 125) at
`least partially match corresponding subscriber request
`attributes (120 and 130), and displaying the at least
`one candidate object by means of a form page, using a
`second language.
`
`ATTRIBUTES
`
`A‘ITRIBUTES
`
`NON-ESSENTIAL
`AHRIBUIES
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.1/29)
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.1/29)
`
`

`

`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`13.]
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`CU
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People’s
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Licchtcnstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`Albania
`Armenia
`
`Austria
`
`Australia
`
`Azerbaijan
`
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`
`
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`
`Bulgaria
`
`Benin
`Brazil
`
`Belarus
`
`Canada
`
`Central African Republic
`
`Congo
`
`Switzerland
`
`cote d'lvoire
`
`Cameroon
`
`KR
`China
`
`Cuba
`KZ
`LC
`
`Czech Republic
`LI
`Germany
`LK
`Denmark
`
`Estonia
`LR
`
`
`
`
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`SZ
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`US
`UZ
`VN
`YU
`ZW
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`
`
`
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.2/29)
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.2/29)
`
`

`

`W0 0'0/58866
`
`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`Multi-Lingual On-Line Object Matching
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to matching of objects within databases.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The following patents have been found in a US. patent search and are believed
`
`to be generally relevant to the field of the invention:
`
`US4,566,078; US4,595,980; [584,615,002; US4,658;370; US4,787,035; US4,885,689;
`
`US4,905,138; US4,916,6lO; USS,148,541; USS,157,606; USS,257,185; USS,278,980;
`
`10
`
`15
`
`U85,307,265; USS,319,745;135,412,712;USS/116,903; USS,426,583;USS,434,776;
`
`USS,442,782; USS,453,761; USS/193,606; USS,504,902; USS,511,199; USS,523,946;
`
`USS,557,798;USS,565,908;USS,570,134;U85,583,761;USS,606,700;USS,623,657;
`
`USS,634,066; USS,680,628; L'SS,715,466; USS,721,939; USS,751,957; USS,778,213;
`
`USS,778,356;USS,784,069;135,784,071;US5,787,386; USS,787,410; USS,793,381;
`
`
`
`USS,794,218; USS;799,308; 135,802,511; USS,805,719; USS,815,710; USS,819,303;
`USS,826,250; USS,835,912; USS,838,812; USS,848,419; US5,860,(110; USS,864,864;
`
`USS,867,811; US5,870,605; USS,870,723; USS,873,070; USS,873,084; US5,077,665;
`
`20
`
`USS,197,005; US5,206,949; USS,210,868; USS,251,131; USS,297,039; USS,379,366;
`
`25
`
`30
`
`US5,404,295; USS,404,507; USS,410,692; USS,428,778; USS,454,106; USS,473,146;
`
`USS,535,118; USS,561,793; USS,577,241; USS,600,829; USS,659,731; US5,727,197;
`USS,778,344; USS,794,231; USS},819,291; USS,822,743; US5,832,474; USS,870,741;
`
`I
`
`WOO9717663A1; WOO9726’614A1; W009718516A1;
`
`EP00669021A1; EP00762299A1; EPOO829053A1; EP00875034A1; EPOO388148B1;
`
`EP00121071A2; EPOO333612A2; EP00376316A2; EP0088774'8A2; EPOO333612A3;
`
`EPOO376316A3; EP00388148A3;
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides methods and systems for multi-lingual on-line
`
`match-making, over the Internet. When used in connection with dating services, the
`
`present invention can be used to match multi-national subscribers to one another, by
`
`1
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.3/29)
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.3/29)
`
`

`

`WO 00/58866
`
`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`finding candidate matches for each subscriber. When used in connection with
`
`employment services, the present invention can be used to match multi-national job
`
`openings with people seeking employment.
`
`The present invention enables people of different nationalities to use a common
`
`5
`
`version of a match-making application in their native tongues. The present invention
`
`obviates the need to use multiple localized versions of such an application, and integrate
`
`multiple databases.
`
`There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`
`present invention a method for on—line interactive object matching, including entering
`
`lO
`
`subscriber data into a subscriber database by means of a form page, using a first
`
`language, the subscriber database storing subscriber data, the subscriber data including
`
`subscriber identification attributes and subscriber request attributes, searching an object
`
`database to find data for at least one candidate object within the object database, the
`
`object database storing object data,
`
`the object data including object
`
`identification
`
`15
`
`attributes and object request attributes, and the at
`
`least one candidate object being
`
`characterized in that its identification attributes at least partially match corresponding
`
`subscriber request attributes, and displaying the at least one candidate object by means
`
`of a form page, using a second language.
`
`There is fiirther provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`
`20
`
`present invention a system for ”on-line interactive object matching,
`
`including a data
`
`acquisition unit acquiring subscriber data within a subscriber database by means of a
`
`form page, using a first language, the subscriber database storing subscriber data, the
`subscriber data including subscriber identification attributes and subscriber request
`attributes, a database search engine searching an object database to find data for at least
`
`25
`
`one candidate object within the object database, the object database storing object data,
`
`the object data including object identification attributes and object request attributes,
`
`and the at
`
`least one candidate object being characterized in that
`
`its identification
`
`attributes at least partially match corresponding subscriber request attributes, and a
`
`display device displaying the at least one candidate object by means of a form page,
`
`30
`
`using a second language.
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.4/29)
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.4/29)
`
`

`

`W0 Oil/58866
`
`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the
`
`following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
`
`Figure l is a simplified illustration of a language-independent database, used in
`
`a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 2 is a simplified illustration of a database search engine that finds
`
`candidate objects for subscribers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`
`present invention; and
`
`Figure 3 is a simplified illustration of a multi-lingual on-line object matching
`
`10
`
`system operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.5/29)
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.5/29)
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`

`

`WO 00/58866
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`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The present invention concerns a multi-lingual on-line Internet match-making
`
`service. Subscribers to a system operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment
`
`of the present invention provide descriptive data to identify themselves, along with data
`
`describing objects they are interested in finding. When used as a dating service, the
`
`subscribers and objects can both be people interested in meeting other people. When
`
`used as an employment service, the subscribers can be employers and the objects can be
`
`people seeking employment, or alternatively the subscribers can be people seeking
`
`employment and the objects can be job openings.
`
`The multi-lingual capability of the present
`
`invention enables the same
`
`match-making application to be used internationally. The present invention obviates the
`
`need to use multiple localized versions of the application and integrate multiple
`
`databases,
`
`in order
`
`to support multiple languages.
`
`Instead, data entering the
`
`match-making application in multiple languages
`
`is
`
`integrated into a common
`
`language-independent database. As a result, the present invention enables people from
`
`different countries to use a common dating system in their native tongues, and be
`
`matched together.
`
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`
`invention,
`
`the
`
`subscriber data is stored Within a subscriber database, and the object data is stored
`
`within an object database. The subscriber database may be the same database as the
`
`object database, or alternatively it may be distinct from the object database. The data
`
`used to identify a subscriber is preferably a set of subscriber identification attributes,
`
`such as the subscriber’s age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, academic training,
`
`nationality and profession. The data used to describe the objects that a subscriber is
`
`interested in finding is preferably a set of subscriber request attributes. The same set of
`
`attributes may be used for identification and request attributes, or alternatively different
`
`sets of attributes may be used.
`
`Similarly,
`
`the data used to identify an object
`
`is preferably a set of object
`
`identification attributes, and the data used to describe the subscribers that are suitable
`
`for an object is preferably a set of object request attributes.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.6/29)
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.6/29)
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`

`

`WO 00/58866
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`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`When a subscriber enters his identification attributes and request attributes into
`
`the subscriber database,
`
`the present
`
`invention conducts a search within the object
`
`database to find candidate objects that match the subscriber’s request.
`
`It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art
`
`that several
`
`types of
`
`matching criteria can be used in the present invention. A one-way match can be used to
`
`find candidate objects within the object database whose identification attributes match
`
`corresponding subscriber request attributes Moreover, the one-way match can be a
`
`“complete match,” whereby all of the object
`
`identification attributes match the
`
`corresponding subscriber request attributes, or alternatively the match can be a “partial
`
`match,” whereby some of the object
`
`identification attributes match corresponding
`
`subscriber request attributes.
`
`For a more accurate match, the present invention uses a two-may match, to find
`
`candidate objects within the object database whose identification attributes match
`
`corresponding subscriber
`
`request attributes,
`
`and whose request attributes match
`
`corresponding subscriber identification attributes. Moreover, each direction of the
`
`two-way match can be either a complete match or a partial match. For example, a
`
`database search can find candidate objects for which their identification attributes
`
`completely match the subscriber request attributes, and for which their request attributes
`
`partially match the subscriber identification attributes.
`
`The present invention includes the capability of indicating that certain object
`
`identification attributes are essential and that other object identification attributes are
`
`preferable but non—essential. For example, in a dating service, attributes such as age and
`weight may be essential and attributes such as nationality and profession may be
`
`non-essential, When searching for candidate objects to match a subscriber, a preferred
`
`embodiment of the present invention enforces a complete match for essential attributes
`
`and a partial match for non-essential attributes, as described hereinbelow with reference
`
`to Figure 2.
`
`In one embodiment of the present
`
`invention,
`
`the classification as to which
`
`object identification attributes are essential and which object identification attributes are
`
`non-essential is prescribed by an administrator of an object matching system.
`
`In an
`
`alternative embodiment of the present invention, the classification as to which object
`
`identification attributes are essential and which object
`
`identification attributes are
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
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`30
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.7/29)
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.7/29)
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`W0 0‘0/58866
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`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`non-essential is made by a subscriber.
`
`In this latter embodiment the classification as to
`
`which object
`
`identification attributes are essential and which object
`
`identification
`
`attributes are non—essential
`
`is personal to each subscriber, and can be different for
`
`different subscribers Moreover, a subscriber using the system repeatedly can change
`
`his personal classification as to which object identification attributes are essential and
`
`which attributes are non-essential to him.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Similarly,
`
`subscriber
`
`identification attributes can also be classified into
`
`essential and non-essential attributes.
`
`In the case of a two-way match, where object
`
`request attributes are matched with corresponding subscriber identification attributes, a
`
`complete match is applied to essential
`
`attributes and a partial match is applied to
`
`non—essential attributes, as described hereinbelow with reference to Figure 2.
`
`Reference is now made to Figure 1, which is a simplified illustration of a
`
`language—independent database, used in a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention. Shown in Figure 1
`is a database 100 that includes subscriber data 105 and
`
`object data 110. As mentioned hereinabove, the subscriber and object databases of the
`
`present invention may be distinct or identical databases. For purposes of conciseness
`
`and clarity, a single database 100 is illustrated in Figure 1. Database 100 stores both
`
`subscriber data 105 and object data 110.
`
`Subscriber data 105 includes subscriber
`
`identification attributes
`
`115 and subscriber
`
`request attributes
`
`120.
`
`Subscriber
`
`identification attributes 115 are used to describe the subscriber himself. Examples of
`such attributes are the subscriber’s age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, academic
`
`Subscriber request attributes 120 are used to
`training, nationality and profession.
`describe the type of object that the subscriber is interested in being match with.
`Similarly, object data 110 includes object
`identification attributes 125 and
`
`object request attributes 130.
`
`Identification attributes 125 of an object are used to
`
`describe the object being identified. Request attributes 130 of an object are used to
`describe the type of subscriber that is suitable for matching with the object.
`
`Identification and request
`
`attributes
`
`are
`
`classified into
`
`essential
`
`and
`
`non-essential attributes. As shown in Figure l, subscriber identification attributes 115
`
`are classified into essential identification attributes 135 and non-essential identification
`
`attributes 140, and subscriber request attributes 120 are classified into essential request
`attributes 145 and non-essential request attributes 150. Similarly, object identification
`
`6
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.8/29)
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.8/29)
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`attributes 125 are classified into essential identification attributes 155 and non-essential
`
`identification attributes 160, and object
`
`request attributes 130 are classified into
`
`essential request attributes 165 and non-essential request attributes 170. For example,
`
`age and weight can be essential attributes, whereas nationality and profession can be
`
`non-essential attributes.
`
`Preferably, the classification as to which object identification attributes 125 are
`
`essential attributes 155 and which ones are non-essential attributes 160 coincides with
`
`the classification as to which subscriber request attributes 120 are essential attributes
`
`10
`
`15
`
`145 and which ones are non—essential attributes 150.
`
`This ensures that essential
`
`attributes 155 can be completely matched with essential attributes 145, as described
`
`hereinbelow with reference to Figure 2.
`
`Similarlx.
`
`the classification as to which
`
`subscriber attributes 115 are essential attributes 135 and which ones are non-essential
`
`attributes 140 preferably coincides with the classification as to which object request
`attributes 130 are essential attributes 165 and which ones are non-essential attributes
`
`170. This ensures that essential attributes 135 can be completely matched with essential
`
`attributes 165, as described hereinbelow with reference to Figure 2.
`
`In one embodiment of the present
`
`invention,
`
`the classification as to which
`
`object
`
`identification attributes 125 are essential attributes 155 and which ones are
`
`20
`
`non-essential attributes 160 is prescribed by an administrator of the match-making
`system.
`In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the classification as to
`
`which object identification attributes 125 are essential attributes 155 and which ones are
`
`In both of these embodiments, the
`non-essential attributes 160 is made by a subscriber.
`classification among object
`identification attributes 125 is
`then imposed as the
`classification among subscriber
`request attributes 120,
`to ensure that
`the two
`
`classifications coincide, as described hereinabove.
`
`Similarly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the classification as to
`
`which subscriber identification attributes 115 are essential attributes 135 and which
`
`ones are non-essential attributes 140 is prescribed by an administrator of the
`
`30
`
`the
`invention,
`In an alternative embodiment of the present
`match-making system.
`classification as to which subscriber identification attributes 115 are essential attributes
`
`In both of
`135 and which ones are non-essential attributes 140 is made by an object.
`these embodiments, the classification among subscriber identification attributes 115 is
`
`7
`
`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.9/29)
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`Monster Worldwide, Inc. Exhibit 1025 (p.9/29)
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`

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`WO 00/58866
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`PCT/IL00/00186
`
`then imposed as the classification among object request attributes 130, to ensure that the
`
`two classifications coincide, as described hereinabove.
`
`Database 100 resides on a server computer 175, and is accessed by multiple
`
`client computers, such as client computer 180, connected to server computer 175 by
`
`Internet connections. Client computer 180 includes a display device 185, and web
`
`browser software that renders HTML pages transmitted from server computer 175, such
`
`as HTML page 190 and HTML page 195, on display device 185.
`
`Preferably HTML page 190 contains a user interface for inputting subscriber
`
`data to database 100, and HTML page 195 contains a layout for displaying to a
`
`subscriber candidate object data retrieved from database 100.
`
`Reference is now made to Figure 2, which is a simplified illustration of a
`
`database search engine that finds candidate objects for subscribers in accordance with a
`
`preferred embodiment of the present invention. A subscriber enters subscriber data 205
`
`into a match-making system of the present invention, in order to seek candidate objects.
`
`The objects accessible to the match-making system are objects for which characterizing
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`object data 210 has been entered into the database.
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`Subscriber data 205 includes
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`subscriber
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`identification attributes 215 that serve to identify the subscriber, and
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`subscriber request attributes 220 that serve to describe the objects that the subscriber is
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`interested in finding. Object data 210 includes object identification attributes 225 that
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`serve to identify an object, and object request attributes 230 that serve to identify
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`subscribers that are suitable for an object.
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`The match-making system then searches through its object database to find
`candidate objects, appropriate for matching with the subscriber. Various types of
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`searches are possible.
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`For example, a one-way search can be conducted to find
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`candidate objects whose identification attributes completely or partially match the
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`subscriber
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`request attributes.
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`This type of search finds objects that meet
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`the
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`requirements sought by the subscriber. However, the subscriber may not necessarily
`meet the requirements necessary to be suitable for the candidate objects.
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`is also possible to conduct a one-way search in the opposite direction;
`It
`namely, to find candidate objects whose request attributes completely or partially match
`the subscriber identification attributes. This type of search finds objects for which the
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`subscriber is suitable therefor. However, the objects may not necessarily be desirable to
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`the subscriber.
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`Alternatively, a two-way search can be conducted to find candidate objects
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`whose identification attributes completely or partially match the subscriber request
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`attributes, and whose request attributes completely or partially match the subscriber
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`identification attributes. This type of search finds objects for which the subscriber is
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`suitable therefor, and that also meet the requirements sought by the subscriber.
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`As mentioned hereinabove, in conducting either a one-way or two-way search,
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`the attributes to be matched may be completely or partially matched. Partial matching
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`finds objects some of whose attributes match the corresponding attributes of the
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`subscriber, but other attributes may not necessarily match. Typically, some of the
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`attributes being matched in the search are of more importance than others.
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`In a preferred embodiment
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`the present
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`invention classifies attributes into
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`essential
`
`and non-essential
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`attributes.
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`As
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`illustrated in Figure 2,
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`subscriber
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`identification attributes 215 are classified into essential identification attributes 235 and
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`identification attributes 240, and subscriber request attributes 220 are
`non-essential
`classified into essential request attributes 245 and non-essential request attributes 250.
`Similarly, object identification attributes 225 are classified into essential identification
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`attributes 255 and non-essential
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`identification attributes 260, and object
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`request
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`attributes are classified into essential request attributes 265 and non-essential request
`attributes 270.
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`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the request attributes are
`classified into essential and non—essential attributes, and the same classifications are
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`automatically imposed on the corresponding identification attributes. Specifically, the
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`classification used for the subscriber request attributes 220 is imposed upon the object
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`identification attributes 225, and the classification used for the object request attributes
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`230 is imposed upon the subscriber identification attributes 215.
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`The classifications for the subscriber and object request attributes can be
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`prescribed by an administrator of the match-making system.
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`In such a case, where it is
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`known in advance which attributes are essential, the match-making system can ensure
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`that data for all essential subscriber and object identification attributes is entered into
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`the system.
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`If a subscriber omits essential subscriber identification attributes, or if a
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`user who enters object data omits essential object identification attributes. the system
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`displays a notification indicating the missing essential attribute data, and does not input
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`the subscriber or object data into the database until such missing essential attribute data
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`is supplied.
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`Alternatively, a subscriber can impose his own personal classification as to
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`which request attributes are essential to him and which attributes are not essential to
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`him. Similarly, a user who enters data for an object into the database can impose his
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`own personal classification as to which request attributes are essential to him and which
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`attributes are not essential to him.
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`10
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`As indicated in Figure 2, in a preferred embodiment using a two-way match,
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`the match-making system searches for objects whose essential identification attributes
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`255 completely match the corresponding essential subscriber request attributes 245, and
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`whose essential request attributes 265 completely match the corresponding subscriber
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`essential identification attributes 235. Complete matching is indicating by solid arrows
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`in Figure 2.
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`Partial matching is applied to the non—essential attributes.
`
`Specifically,
`
`partially matched with
`are
`260
`attributes
`identification
`object
`non-essential
`corresponding non-essential subscriber request attributes 250, and non-essential object
`
`request attributes 270 are partially matched with corresponding non-essential subscriber
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`identification attributes 240. Partial matching is indicated by dotted arrows in Figure 2.
`
`In a preferred embodiment, when carrying out a partial match,
`
`the present
`
`invention provides match rating information,
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`indicating the degree of success of the
`
`match. Such a match rating can be thepercentage of attributes that match, or an average
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`of weights assigned to each attribute, based on the attributes that match. When
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`candidate objects are presented to'a subscriber with match ratings, the subscriber can
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`quickly ascertain which of the candidate objects are better matches than others.
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`Reference is now made to Figure 3, which is a simplified illustration of a
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`multi-lingual on-line object matching system operative in accordance with a preferred
`
`embodiment of the present invention. Subscriber attribute data is input to the system
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`using a first language, and passes through an input filter 310.
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`Input filter 310 converts
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`the
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`subscriber
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`attribute data
`
`from the
`
`first
`
`language
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`into
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`an
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`intermediate
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`language-independent form. For example, input filter 310 may convert the subscriber
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`attribute data into numerical form. If a user interface for the input data is menu-driven,
`
`so that each attribute is selected from a menu of possible choices, then the conversion to
`
`numerical format is inherent in the indices of the menus.
`
`If the user interface is not
`
`menu-driven, but if nevertheless there are only a relatively small number of choices for
`
`each attribute (eg. eye color), then conversion to numerical format
`
`is achieved by
`
`indexing the choices
`
`The language-independent subscriber data is input to database 320. A search
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`engine 330 carries out a search to match objects stored in database 320 with the
`
`subscriber attribute data.
`
`If suitable matches are found,
`
`then search engine 330
`
`produces a list of one or more candidate objects. Attribute data for the candidate objects
`
`is retrieved in language-independent form, and passed through an output filter 340.
`
`Output filter 340 converts the object data from the language-independent form into a
`
`second language, for presentation to the subscriber.
`
`The first language may be the same as the second language, or it may be a
`
`distinct language. For example, a subscriber may use a French version of Microsoft
`
`Windows and input his attribute data in French, and he may use an Italian version of
`
`Microsoft Windows and retrieve the candidate objects that are matched with him in
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`Italian. Moreover a different subscriber using a French version of Microsoft Windows
`
`may prefer to input his attribute data in English.
`
`As illustrated in Figure 3, input filter 310, database 320, search engine 330 and
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`output filter 340 are part of a match-making system residing on a server computer 350.
`
`Multiple client computers 360 are. connected to server computer 350 via Internet
`connections. Client-computers 360 are used by subscribers who input subscriber data
`
`into the match-making system and retrieve candidate object data. Conversely, client
`
`computers 360 may be used by users who input object data into the match-making
`
`system. Such users may also retrieve candidate subscriber data.
`
`In addition to identification attributes,
`
`the present
`
`invention includes the
`
`capability of using multi-media data, such as images, audio clips or video clips, to
`
`further identify subscribers and objects. When a subscriber uses a match-making
`
`system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`
`invention, he is
`
`provided with multi-media data corresponding to each candidate object found by
`
`matching,
`
`in addition to the candidate object’s attribute data.
`
`In a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention, streaming video files, such as a video file in the
`
`RealAudio format of Real Networks, Inc, is included with the object data stored within
`
`the object database, and the streaming video file associated with a particular object is
`
`downloaded to a subscriber
`
`for viewing, along with that object’s identification
`
`attributes, for an object that is a candidate object.
`
`It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention can
`
`be combined with a “buddy system,” such as the ICQ system of Mirabilis. Within the
`
`context of the present invention, such a system can be used to indicate to a subscriber
`
`when people who are the candidate objects that match the subscriber, are on-line
`
`simultaneous with the subscriber. Upon indication that a particular person is on—line,
`
`the subscriber can then initiate a dialogue with such person. Reference information on
`
`the I