Ulllted States Patent
`[19]
`[11] Patent Number:
`6,052,122
`
`Sutcliffe et al.
`[45 J Date of Patent:
`*Apr. 18, 2000
`
`U5006052122A
`
`[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`MATCHING REGISTERED PROFILES
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Andrew B. Sutclifi'e, Tyngsboro; Kevin
`A. Dunn, Boston, both of Mass.
`.
`.
`.
`[73] Assigncc: TeIe-Publlshlng, Inc.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`[*] Notice:
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`CCUTIOI’I application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`.
`[21] Appl‘ No" 08/874564
`[22]
`Filed
`Jun. 13, 1997
`
`Int. Cl.7
`[51]
`...... G06F 3/14; G06F 17/30
`
`[52] US. Cl........................... 345/331, 345/329, 345/331,
`_
`707/102; 707/6; 707/3
`I
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 345/329, 331;
`707’6’ 102’ 3’ 501
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5
`Re. 30, 79
`Re. 30,580
`4,608,601
`4,651,150
`4,739,322
`
`1
`1d
`I
`4,1981 Go man et a. ................... 340/149 R
`
`.. 340/149 R
`4/1981 Goldman et al.
`/1986 Shreck et al.
`...... 358/146
`
`. 340/825.34
`3/1987 Katz et al.
`
`. 340/82534
`/1988 Katz et al.
`
`’379/92
`4,792,968 12/:1988 KHZ ~~~~~~~~~
`4781:7824
`391989 Katz 8" al‘ “““““““““““““ 340/835‘34
`1,1323 5:” """"""""""""""""""""""324/933
`$291623
`
`4’930’150
`5',1990 Kai/z
`379/93
`4:932:046
`6/1990 Katz etal 379/32
`”990 Katz ......
`4,939,773
`379/204
`
`4,987,590
`1/1991 Katz
`379/204
`.. 364/419
`4,996,642
`2/1991 IIey
`
`- 379/93
`590149298
`5/1991 KatZ
`
`~ 329/92
`5,016,270
`5/1991 Katz
`1361331 E112 """"""""""""""""""""""" 373/93
`3,392,839
`a z ..........................................
`,
`,
`,
`5,086,394
`1,1992 Shapira .
`364/419
`
`5,091,933
`/1992 Katz ......
`379/204
`4/1992 Katz et al.
`................................ 379/88
`5,109,404
`
`7/1992 {atz .......................................... 379/92
`5,128,984
`8/1992
`'
`. 364/408
`5,136,501
`2/1993
`.. 379/204
`5,185,787
`2;133:
`~~ 33:99:13:
`3:212:31
`6/1993
`379/93
`5:224:53
`5,251,252 10/1993
`379/92
`52557309
`10/1993
`.. 379/88
`5,259.023
`11 1993
`379 88
`5297197
`41994
`379/2/04
`5:347:306
`9/1994
`.. 345/332
`5349;033
`9/1994
`.. 379/88
`5,351,285
`9/1994
`379/94
`5,359,645
`10/1994
`379/93
`5,365,575
`11/1994
`379/92
`5,412,708
`5/1995
`{atz .......................................... 348/14
`5,442,688
`8/1995
`{atz ........................................ 379/156
`5,491,743
`2/1996 Shiio et al.
`............................. 379/201
`(List cont'nued on next page.)
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Match.c0m Electric Classifieds, PR Newswire San Fran-
`,
`.
`,
`.
`cisco Oct 30th 1995
`“WWW.match.com, Online Matchmaking”, web site pages,
`4 pages, printed out 011 Jun. 16, 1997 (origination date
`unknown).
`
`Primary Examiner—Raymond J. Bayerl
`Assistant Examiner—Thomas T. Nguyen
`A
`A
`F. —N
`M Cl
`”omey’
`gent, or 1"”
`utter,
`C
`“me“
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`& F. h LLP
`15
`
`A system of matching a first user with at least one other user
`of the system by comparing criteria data of the first user with
`characteristic data of the at least one other user and criteria
`data of the at least one other user with characteristic data of
`the firSt “Set The Charaderistic and ““3921 data can be
`obtained Via the Internet, and more specmcally through a
`series of web site screens that prompt the user for charac-
`teristic and preference data. The system performs the com-
`parison of the respective characteristic and criteria data to
`provide a list of matches to the first user. The first user is
`furnished with information that allows the first user to
`7
`.
`contact the other users for VSthh a match has been found.
`
`18 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`ISA
`
`ISIS
`
`USER #2
`
`
`I ISER
`
`
`INFORMATION
`DATABASE
`
`FIREWALL
`
`INTERNET
`SERVICE
`PROVDDER II
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERNET
`SERVICE
`PROVIDER #K
`
`
`218
`28
`
`WEB SITE
`
`263J
`L'SER #2
`
` 26M
`
`
`
`ZON
`
`USER #l
`
`7.00
`USER #2
`
`:26
`'
`
`Q
`
`LYFT 1012
`
`MATCHING
`SYSTEM
`
`‘ ‘
`
`SERVER
`
`
`
`18
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WEB SITE
`
`
`
`LYFT 1012
`
`1
`
`

`

`6,052,122
`
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5495 284
`348/15
`2,19% Km
`5:496:175
`3/1996 om;521']"ffffffffff.'f.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'......434/118
`
`5,551,880
`/1996 Bonnstetter et a1.
`434/236
`5,553,120
`/1996 Katz .......................................... 379/88
`5,561,707 10/1996 Katz .......................................... 379/88
`
`5,568,540 10/1996 Greo et a1.
`379/8825
`10/1997 Lawrence ................................ 273/459
`5,681,046
`
`5,696,981
`
`5,775,695
`5794310
`5,796,393
`5796395
`57796945
`5,835,087
`5,878,416
`
`12/1997 Shovers ................................... 395/760
`
`7/1998 Byers .........
`.. 273/161
`
`8/1998 GOIdhaber 6t a1~ ~~
`- 707501
`8/1998 MacNaughton et al.
`............... 345/329
`8/1998 De Hond -------------------------------- 345/331
`8/1998 Tarabella ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 395/2009
`11/1998 Herz etal.
`.............................. 345/327
`3/1999 Harris et a1.
`.............................. 707/10
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`1
`
`6,052,122
`
`232wE”am:;mmoSoEm85%S3556m,28HEEEEaozEB<2m.gAER/mum
`
`v3”595%
`
`$2”am:85%H5537:H003M
`new23%:.n
`w..M:mmmémm
`
`2%”am:3
`
`08Hmm
`
`mom<3ZOF<SEOmZH
`
`
`V2%yam:,mmmD
`
`smméfié
`
`QMam:
`
`m22<2
`
`z:
`
`a$3a
`
`3
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18,2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`PM, ,fi
`
`.
`
`.
`
`GENDER AND RELATIONSHIP
`
`IAMA: MALE /50
`
`FEMALE
`
`SEEKING A: (SELECT ANY AND ALL COMBINATIONS THAT APPLY)
`
`I] RELATIONSHIP
`.
`FEMALE FOR A. El FRIEND
`El EMAIL PEN PAL
`
`El SPORTS OR ACTIVITY PARTNER /52
`
`III RELATIONSHIP
`MALE FOR A. El FRIEND
`I] EMAIL PEN PAL
`
`I] SPORTS OR ACTIVITY PARTNER
`
`
`AGE / BIRTHDATE
`
`ENTER YOUR BIRTHDAY IN THE FORM OF MM/DD/YY
`DID/R/‘MA
`
`WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF YOUR DESIRED MATCH? (FOR EXAMPLE, 35 TO 50, 22 TO 27, ETC.)
`
`:1 TO III/54B
`
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18,2000
`
`Sheet 3 Of 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`ETHNICITY
`
`/56
`
`I'D LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS:
`
`0 NO PREFERENCE
`
`AFRICAN-AMERICAN
`ASIAN
`/56A
`CAUCASIAN
`
`HISPANIC
`
`MY RACE IS:
`
`. I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
`
`AFRICAN-AMERICAN
`
`ASIAN
`CAUCASIAN
`HISPANIC /
`
`56B
`
`OTHER 0
`
`
`
`BODY TYPE
`
`I AM:
`
`IWOULD LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE BETWEEN
`
`|:|FEET, l:l INCHES TALL.
`
`|:| FEET El INCHES AND |:l FEET [I INCHES TALL.
`
`0R .
`El CENTIMETERS
`
`0R...
`BETWEENEI AND [3 CM TALL.
`
`/ 583
`
`
`
`MY BODY TYPE IS: fSSC AND I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS:
`
`. I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
`
`. NO PREFERENCE
`
`SLIM OR SLENDER
`
`SLIM OR SLENDER
`
`ATHLETIC
`AVERAGE
`
`’
`
`ATHLETIC
`AVERAGE
`
`f
`
`8])
`
`A FEW POUNDS OVERWEIGHT
`
`A FEW POUNDS OVERWEIGHT
`
`OVERWEIGHT
`
`OVERWEIGHT
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18,2000
`
`Sheet 4 Of 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`OBTAIN AND STORE CHARACTERISTIC AND CRITERIA \f 200
`DATA FOR USERS OF THE SYSTEM IN A USER DATABASE
`
`OBTAIN AND STORE CHARACTERISTIC AND CRITERIA
`DATA FOR A FIRST USER
`
`\./- 202
`
`DEFINE A SEARCH STRING TO MATCH CHARACTERISTIC
`
`AND CRITERIA DATA OF THE FIRST USER AND
`
`
`
`OTHER USERS OF THE SYSTEM
`
`SEARCH USER DATABASE USING DEFINED STRING
`
`\/-
`
`206
`
`PROVIDE SEARCH RESULTS TO THE FIRST USER
`
`\/ 208
`
`FIG 3A
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18,2000
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`EXAMINE CRITERIA ELEMENT OF THE FIRST USER
`
`250
`
`NEXT ELEMENT
`
`253
`
`Y
`
`NULL 0R
`DON'T CARE?
`
`252
`
`
`
`
` 254
`APPEND SEARCH STRING TO SEARCH FOR OTHER
`
`USERS THAT HAVE CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENTS THAT
`
`
`MATCHES THE CRITERIA ELEMENT OF THE FIRST USER
`
`
`
`
`
`EXAMINE CORRESPONDING CHARACTERISTIC
`ELEMENT OF THE FIRST USER
`
`
`
`
`
`NULL? OR
`DON'T CARE?
`
`258
`
`
`
`APPEND SEARCH STRING TO SEARCH FOR OTHER
`USERS THAT HAVE CRITERIA ELEMENT THAT IS MET
`
`
`BY THE CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENT OF THE FIRST USER
`
`
`
`
`MORE
`
`CRITERIA
`
`ELEMENTS?
`
`
`
`
`262
`
`256
`
`260
`
`7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18,2000
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`304
`
`300
`USER
`
`OUTPUT
`
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`USER
`INPUT
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`302
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`6,052,122
`
`o:)o:E
`
`«2§§
`
`m:N:as2:
`
`mamaviaBEEE55228$55amigo
`
`2:ESE
`
`
`
`#2549328aSi
`
`o
`
`:6
`
`E
`
`295522228on2:E92$285M
`
`mmE<m<E55
`
`maze:
`
`mmdoézoo
`
`m.UHm
`
`Q—VH.0flflfluflfl
`2M7if)a:
`
`E052
`
`SEE
`
`w:
`
`we
`
`o:
`
`9
`
`
`
`

`

`6,052,122
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`MATCHING REGISTERED PROFILES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`Not Applicable.
`
`APPENDIX
`
`This application includes a computer program appendix
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH
`
`Not Applicable.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The present invention relates generally to matching, and
`more particularly to a system matching one user to at least
`one other user based on characteristics and preferences of ’
`the users.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is sometimes difficult for an individual to meet other
`
`individuals having similar interests and personal character-
`istics. There are many reasons for this difficulty such as long
`work hours, limited organizational memberships in the form
`of churches and the like, and unusual preferences to name
`but a few. For example, a person who has recently moved to
`a new area will likely not know many other people and thus
`may have limited social opportunities. Such a person may be
`introduced to many new people, but common interests or
`desirable and undesirable characteristics may not be readily
`apparent. Thus, a person may be able to reliably estimate the
`age of another, but not educational level or other such
`characteristics that may be of interest. Further, a person may
`want to enter a relationship only with a person having a
`similar religious afliliation. However, religious afiiliation is
`not discernible from appearance alone. It will be appreciated
`that meeting others having characteristics that are important
`to a particular individual may not occur without significant
`effort and personal contact on the part of the individual.
`In an attempt to meet
`the need for facilitating social
`interaction, many personal advertisement systems are avail-
`able. They can be in the form of personal advertisements
`placed in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. Such
`personal ads allow an individual to specify limited criteria
`desired in another such as gender or race and the like, in
`addition to a minimal amount of text. Although such ads
`allow communication with many people in the form of
`readers,
`it will be appreciated that
`it can be difficult to
`tactfully set forth prerequisite requirements for another in
`the space typically allotted for such an ad.
`After placement of a personal ad, the individual must wait
`for others to respond and may have very little,
`if any,
`information about them. Respondents may meet at
`least
`some of the criteria of the advertiser, but the advertiser may
`not have many of the characteristics desired by the respon-
`dent. This can decrease the chances of forming a desired
`ongoing relationship, friendship, or other form of associa—
`tion. In addition, much time can be spent and frustration
`experienced due to this lack of information.
`As the popularity of the Internet has increased, some
`newspapers and other print publications now provide per-
`sonal advertisements on various web sites. One such
`example is an on-line personal advertisement system having
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`a plurality of users. Each user selects a set of criteria, such
`as height, body type, and interests, that must be met by
`another user. Upon request of a user, the system searches the
`database for other users that meet the criteria of the request-
`ing user. In this way, a list of potential candidates is provided
`that the user may have an interest in contacting to begin a
`relationship or engage in activities of mutual interest.
`Such a system provides an improvement over reading
`countless personal advertisements of which most will not be
`of any interest, but does not take into account the require-
`ments of the candidates with respect to the first user. For
`example, a first candidate may meet all the requirements of
`the first user, but the first user may not meet any of the
`criteria of the first candidate. Thus, the first user may contact
`candidates that are not interested in meeting the first user
`because the first user does not meet some requirement of a
`respective candidate.
`Another disadvantage of such a system is that the candi-
`dates meeting the criteria of the first user are not provided in
`any particular order. For example, the first user may feel that
`the most important characteristic of a candidate be that the
`candidate not drink. A candidate may likewise feel strongly
`about drinking, but be only one of many candidates that
`meet the first user’s criteria. Presenting candidates that meet
`the criteria specified by the first user in an ordered manner
`would be useful.
`
`SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a system for matching a
`first user with at least a second user based on criteria and
`characteristics of the both the first user and the at least a
`
`second user. The system includes a user interface means,
`such as a graphical user interface, to obtain characteristic
`and criteria data for users of the system. Characteristic data
`generally describes a user and criteria data sets forth desired
`characteristic data for another user. For example, for the first
`user a characteristic data element with respect to drinking
`may be that the first user does not drink at all, whereas the
`corresponding criteria data element for the first user can be
`that the first user prefers someone who drinks socially. The
`system further includes memory means for storing the
`characteristic and criteria data of users of the system.
`Comparison means are provided to compare the criteria data
`of the first user with the characteristic data of the at least one
`
`other user and to compare the criteria data of the at least one
`other user with the characteristic data of the first user. For the
`case where the characteristic data of the at least one other
`user meets the criteria data of the first user and the charac-
`teristic data of the first user meets the criteria data of the at
`least one other user, communication means provide infor-
`mation associated with the at least one other user to the first
`
`user. The system can include ordering means for ordering
`search results based on one or more parameters.
`In a first embodiment, a graphical user interface in the
`form of web site screens prompt users for the characteristic
`and criteria data that is stored in the form of data strings in
`a database. A plurality of tables contain various user infor-
`mation. A data string used to search the database is formed
`based on the characteristic and criteria data provided by the
`first user and the at least one other user. The data string
`requires that the characteristic data of the at least one other
`user meets the criteria data of the first user and that the
`characteristic data of the first user meet the criteria data of
`the at least one other user. The search results, i.e., matches,
`are provided to the first user in the form of information
`associated with at least one other user so that the first user
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`6,052,122
`
`3
`may contact the matched at least one other user. The results
`can be ordered based on a parameter, criteria priorities,
`criteria and/or characteristic weighting or other means.
`In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a
`computer implemented method of matching a first user with
`at least one other user of a system includes obtaining and
`storing characteristic and criteria data from users of the
`system. The system compares the criteria data of the first
`user with criteria data of at least one other user and compares
`the criteria data of the at least one other user with the
`characteristic data of the first user. In the case where the
`characteristic data of the at least one other user meets the
`criteria data of the first user and the characteristic data of the
`first user meets the criteria data of the at least one other user,
`a match is found. Match data are provided to the first user
`in the form of information that allows the first user to
`establish contact with the at least one other user. Search
`
`results can optionally be provided in an order based on a
`parameter, priority of criteria and/or characteristics, criteria
`and/or characteristic weighting, or other means.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing features of this invention as well as the
`invention itself may be more fully understood from the
`following detailed description of the drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for matching a first
`user with at least one other user of the system in accordance
`with the present invention;
`FIGS. 2A—B are exemplary graphical user interface pages
`in the form of web screens for obtaining information from
`the first user and at least one other user of FIG. 1;
`FIGS. 3A—B are flow diagrams illustrating an exemplary
`set of processing steps for matching a first user to at least one
`other user in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the matching system of FIG.
`1; and
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system adapted
`for use with the matching system of FIG. 1.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The present invention is described in conj unction with an
`on-line personal advertisement system that provides to a first
`user information associated with at least one other user of
`
`the system based on characteristic and criteria data of the
`first user and the at least one other user. However, the present
`invention is useful in many applications for matching indi-
`viduals and items using a wide variety of characteristic and
`criteria data. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited
`to the particular context, application or embodiments
`described herein.
`
`In the on-line personal advertisement system described
`herein, reference is made to characteristic and criteria data.
`As used herein, characteristic data refers to information that
`describes a user. For example, characteristic data elements
`associated with the first user refer to the gender of the first
`user, the drinking habits of the first user, and other such
`information. Criteria data refers to the characteristics pre-
`ferred in another user by the first user. For example, the
`criteria data of the first user can include a requirement that
`another user be a specified gender or that another user have
`certain drinking patterns. Thus, characteristic data refers to
`the first user and criteria data refers to the preferences of the
`first user with respect to another user.
`The on-line personal advertisement system can provide
`personal ads having several components such as profile data
`
`10
`
`15
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`in the form of characteristic and criteria data, a voice
`greeting, and a textual portion provided by the user. In
`addition, each user can have a personal journal that includes,
`for example, a list of other users that the user has selected,
`the last e-mail sent and received for a particular user, and
`search results as described in conjunction with FIGS. 3A—B.
`Thus, a user may choose a particular means to contact
`another user, such as by e-mail, leaving a voice message, or
`other means.
`In one embodiment, a user can purchase
`“stamps” to enable e-mail or other user contact. An exem-
`plary personal advertisement system and aspects thereof are
`described in further detail in other applications assigned to
`the Assignee of the present application and filed on even date
`herewith entitled: “Interactive Personals Online Network
`
`Method and Apparatus” (Attorney Docket No. 17778-24),
`“Method and Apparatus for Providing Personalized Adver—
`tisements on a Computer Network” (Attorney Docket No.
`17778-21), “Personal Journal” (Attorney Docket No. 17778-
`23), and “Method and Apparatus for Providing A Personals
`Page” (Attorney Docket No. 17778-19), all herein incorpo-
`rated by reference.
`As shown in FIG. 1, a system for matching a first user to
`at least one other user can be implemented using commu-
`nication over the Internet. Referring to FIG. 1, a public
`network or Internet 10 is coupled to a private network 12
`through a firewall server 14. Coupled to private network 12
`are a plurality of users 15a—15N generally denoted 15. As
`used herein,
`the term “Internet” generally refers to any
`collection of distinct networks working together to appear as
`a single network to a user. The term “Internet”, on the other
`hand, refers to the so—called world wide “network of net—
`works” that are connected to each other using the Internet
`protocol (IP) and other similar protocols. The Internet pro-
`vides file transfer, remote log in, electronic mail, news and
`other services.
`
`As described herein, the exemplary public network of
`FIG. 1 is for descriptive purposes only. Although the
`description may refer to terms commonly used in describing
`particular public networks such as the Internet, the descrip-
`tion and concepts equally apply to other public and private
`computer networks, including systems having architectures
`dissimilar to that shown in FIG. 1. For example and without
`limitation thereto, the system of the present invention can
`find application in public as well as private networks, such
`as university roommate matching, company job listings and
`transfer opportunities.
`The firewall server 14 is a computer which couples the
`computers of a private network or server e.g. network 12 to
`the Internet 10. Firewall server 14 may thus act as a
`gatekeeper for messages and data grams going to and from
`the Internet 10.
`
`Also coupled to Internet 10 through a second firewall
`server 16 is a server 18. Server 18 has coupled thereto a
`matching system 20 and a user information database 22.
`Server 18 allows properly authorized users to access match-
`ing system 20. The function of matching system 20 will be
`described in detail herein below. Suffice it here to say,
`however, that matching system 20 matches a first user with
`at least one other user based on characteristic and criteria
`data of the users.
`
`An Internet service provider 24 is also coupled to the
`Internet 10, A service provider is an organization that
`provides connections to a part of the Internet.
`Internet
`service provider 24 includes a processor which couples a
`plurality of users 26a—26M to the Internet 10. Thus, users
`26a—26M are coupled to the Internet through Internet ser-
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`6,052,122
`
`5
`vice provider 26. Also coupled to the Internet 10 are a
`plurality of web sites or nodes 28. When one of the users 15,
`26 wishes to conduct a transaction at one of the nodes 28, the
`user 15, 26 accesses the node 28 through the Internet 10.
`Each node in the system shown in FIG. 1 is configured to
`understand which firewall and node to send data packets to
`given a destination IP address. This may be implemented by
`providing the firewalls and nodes with a map of all valid IP
`addresses disposed on its particular private network or
`another location on the Internet 10. The map may be in the
`form of prefix matches up to and including the full IP
`address.
`User information can be stored in database 22. The
`information need only be stored once. The information may
`be stored,
`for example, as a record or as a file. The
`information for each particular user is stored in a particular
`data structure in database 22.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`Database 22 and matching system 20 may be provided,
`for example, as a database management system (DBMS), an ,
`object-oriented database management system (ODBMS), a
`relational database management system (e.g. DB2, ACCESS
`etc.) or another conventional database package. Thus, the
`database 22 can be implemented using object—oriented tech—
`nology or via text files. Further, the database 22 can be
`accessed via a Structured Query Language (SQL) or other
`tools known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
`FIGS. 2A—B are exemplary screens provided to a user,
`such as over the Internet, to obtain user characteristic and
`criteria data from users of the system. As shown in FIG. 2A,
`the user provides gender data via gender selection area 50.
`The user also identifies the gender and type of relationship
`that is desired in relationship selection area 52. The listed
`choices shown represent one embodiment with many other
`choices also being possible without departing from the scope
`of the invention. Similarly for other characteristic and cri-
`teria data elements which are not
`to be limited to the
`
`particular embodiments shown and described herein.
`Further, more and fewer characteristic data and criteria data
`elements, having more and less choices are possible. In age
`information area 54, the user provides age characteristic data
`54a and age criteria data 54b in the form of a range of ages.
`In ethnicity information area 56, the user provides ethnicity
`characteristic data at user ethnicity area 56a, and ethnicity
`criteria data at preferred ethnicity area 56b. The user pro-
`vides body type characteristic data in the form of height in
`height area 58a, and body type characteristic data in body
`type area 58c. The user provides body type criteria data in
`the form of height range in preferred height area 58b and
`preferred body type information in body type area 58d. In an
`exemplary embodiment, a user selects body type character-
`istic and criteria data from listed possibilities, such as slim,
`athletic, average, a few pounds overweight, and overweight.
`It will be appreciated that more and fewer choices, using
`different
`terms can be used. Also, for each of the data
`elements the user selects from the listed choices that are
`
`appropriate for the particular data. For example, smoking
`and drinking characteristic and criteria data provide choices
`such as no preference, never, occasionally and regularly. For
`educational level, a user may choose from no preference or
`prefer not to answer, high school, some college, completed
`college, and post-college. In an illustrative embodiment, the
`user can specify that another user has completed at least one
`of the listed levels of education.
`
`As can be seen, the user can choose not to provide certain
`characteristics by responding “I prefer not
`to answer”.
`Similarly, the user can decline to express a preference for
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`12
`
`6
`certain criteria data by responding “No preference”. The
`corresponding characteristic or criteria data element is then
`treated accordingly as described in conjunction with the
`process steps associated with forming a search string. Suffice
`it to say that a no preference response will not limit the
`search for other users for the particular element.
`In an exemplary embodiment, the obtained characteristic
`and criteria data are stored in first and second tables, wherein
`a row is provided for each user of the system. In one
`embodiment, the first or “seeking” table, Table I below,
`stores data that
`in an illustrative embodiment must be
`
`provided in order to do a search. This data are the gender and
`type of association that is desired in another user and is
`selected as shown in gender and relationship selection areas
`50 and 52 (FIG. 2A). The system uses this information to
`match one user to another. For example a male seeking a
`female for a friend will be matched to a female seeking a
`male for a friend.
`
`FIELD
`
`USERLID
`SEEKiGENER
`SEEKiFOR
`
`TABLE I
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`Handle
`Gender sought by user
`Type of association sought by user
`
`The second or “user” table, Table II below, is an illustrative
`embodiment of a table storing data associated with a user
`including exemplary characteristic and criteria data obtained
`through screens as typified by FIGS. 2A—B.
`
`FIELD
`
`USERilD
`SEQilD
`CLIENTilD
`BOXiNO
`
`INTERNET
`FLAGS
`PRIViPVV
`VRFYiPASSWD
`VERIFIED
`PERSONALiTEMP
`
`PERSONALiPG
`STAMPS
`CREATED
`LASTiACT
`MATCHED
`FNAME
`LNAME
`ADDRiA
`ADDRiB
`CITY
`STATE
`ZIP
`COUNTRY
`AREACODE
`PHONENUMBER
`GETiMAILINGS
`EMAIL
`HEADUNE
`BODY
`EXPIRES
`STATUS
`SEX
`BIRTHDAY
`ETHNO
`RELIGION
`CHILDREN
`
`TABLE II
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`Handle
`sequential ID
`identifies client newspaper
`mailbox from audiotext system
`to record greeting
`user sign up from Internet?
`i.e., send automateh mailings?
`login password
`verify email addresses reply mail
`has email address been verified?
`template code for personal page being
`edited
`template code of personal page
`number of stamps that have been
`paid for
`date user created
`last login date
`date user was last matched
`first name
`last name
`first address
`second address
`city
`state
`zip code
`country
`area code
`phone number
`get mailings?
`email address
`headline of personal ad
`body of ad
`date web ad expires
`approved, unapproved, or rejected
`gender
`date of birth
`ethnicity
`religion
`parental status
`
`12
`
`

`

`6,052,122
`
`7
`
`FIELD
`
`TABLE II-continued
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`SMOKING
`DRINKING
`BODYiTYPE
`EDUCATION
`HEIGHT
`AGE
`LOCATION
`LATITUDE
`LONGITUDE
`ETHNOLPREF
`RELIGIONLI’REF
`CHILDRENLPREF
`SMOKINGLPREF
`DRINKINGLPREF
`BODYLTYPELPREF
`EDUCATIONiPREF
`HEIGHTLMIN
`HEIGHT MAX
`AGELMIN
`AGEiMAX
`LOCATIONiPREF
`HASLPROFILE
`HASLGREETING
`HAsiREMOTEiGREETING
`
`smoking status
`drinking status
`type of body
`educational background
`lcight
`age
`ocation
`geographic latitude
`geographic longitude
`areferred ethnicity
`areferred religious affiliation
`areferred parental status
`areferred smoking status
`areferred drinking status
`areferred body type
`areferred educational level
`areferred minimum height
`areferred maximum height
`areferred minimum age
`areferred maximum age
`3referred geographical location
`lave a profile?
`lave a greeting?
`lave an audiotext greeting?
`
`
`
`Tables I and II are exemplary embodiments and the inven-
`tion is not to be limited thereto. More and less criteria and
`characteristic data elements can be used. For example, a user
`can interactively take a psychological test, such as ennea-
`grams and Briggs-Meyers, that yield discrete results. Auser
`can take the test and have the option to have the results
`added as a characteristic data element and as a criteria
`element. Thus the user and another user would be matched
`
`for similar test results. Also, the user may choose not to
`provide certain characteristic data and may decline to
`specify a preference with respect to one or more of the
`criteria data elements.
`FIGS. 3A—B are a series of flow diagrams showing the
`processing performed by matching system 20 (FIG. 1) to
`generate a match list in response to a user request. The
`rectangular elements (typified by element 200 in FIG. 3A),
`herein denoted as “processing blocks,” represent computer
`software instructions or groups of instructions. The diamond
`shaped elements (typified by element 252 in FIG. 3B),
`herein denoted as “decision blocks,” represent computer
`software instructions, or groups of instructions which affect
`the execution of the computer software instructions repre-
`sented by the processing blocks.
`Alternatively, the processing and decision blocks repre-
`sent steps performed by functionally equivalent circuits such
`as a digital signal processor circuit or an application specific
`integrated circuit (ASIC). The flow diagrams do not depict
`the syntax of any particular programming language. Rather,
`the flow diagrams illustrate the functional information one
`of ordinary skill in the art requires to fabricate circuits or to
`generate computer software to perform the processing
`required of the particular apparatus. It should be noted that
`many routine program elements, such as initialization of
`loops and variables and the use of temporary variables are
`not shown. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
`in the art that unless otherwise indicated herein, the particu-
`lar sequence of steps described is illustrative only and can be
`varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
`Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the system obtains and
`stores the characteristic and criteria data for users of the
`system in step 200, and for a first user in step 202, as
`described above in conjunction with FIGS. 2A—B. A first
`
`8
`user can request a search of the database for other users
`based on characteristic and criteria data.
`In another
`embodiment, the system can periodically examine the data—
`base to search for users for which there is a bidirectional
`match of characteristic and criteria data. A search string is
`formed in step 204 to match the first user criteria data with
`the characteristic data of other users and the first user
`characteristic data with the criteria data of the other users.
`The formation of the search string is discussed in further
`detail
`in FIG. 3B. After forming the search string,
`the
`database is searched using the string to obtain a list of
`matches in step 206. In optional step 208, the search results
`in the form of matches are provided to the first user. A user
`that has been matched with the first user can be notified that
`
`a match for that user has been found. It will be appreciated
`that search strings can be formed to examine the user
`database for statistical or marketing purposes, as well as for
`user searching.
`FIG. 3B shows details associated with step 204 of FIG. 3A
`in defining the search string. In an exemplary embodiment,
`in order to query the user database, a search string is formed
`that includes the relevant search criteria to search the data-
`
`base. In step 250, a particular criteria element of the first user
`is examined, preferred body type for example. This criteria
`element is checked in step 252 to determine i