||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||l||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
`
`0500648088531
`
`(12) [1111th States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,430,885 B1
`
`Olivier
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`(54) DYNAMICALLY MATCHING USERS FOR
`GROUP COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON A
`THRESHOLD DEGREE 0F MATCHING 0F
`I
`I‘
`SENDER AND RECIPILNT
`PREDETERMINED ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Michael ()Iivler, 2517 Nedson CL,
`Suite 200, Mountain View, CA (US)
`94043
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent
`is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No: 09551681
`
`(22
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 25, 2000
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`(63) Continualion~in-part of application No. PCTI‘USEIQI’ZISSQ,
`filed on Sep. 15, 1999.
`tiled on Sep. 15,
`Provisional application No. bOI‘IUOfiST,
`1998, provisional application No. 60015566, filed on Jan.
`12, 1999, and provisronal application No. 601043341 tiled
`on Jul. 15, 1999.
`
`Gilt“r 15106
`Int. Cl.7
`(51)
`. 709,207; 7091006; 7091202
`......
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`
`(58) Field of Search
`7091006, 202.
`709,007
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`411996 llarkins Ct at.
`5,513,126 A
`9,0996 Johnson el at.
`5,555,426 A
`12.0997 Johnson et at.
`5,694,616 A
`8,0998 Macnaughton et 31.
`53%,393 A
`5,819,261 A * 10,0998 ”I‘akahashi et at.
`5864,6234 A
`01999 Nielsen
`
`Samara A
`$913,845 A
`3:33:33: R
`-
`,
`-
`,-
`.
`6,012,090 A "
`6,04?,310 A "
`
`5:199!) Hall
`row) Kamtra at all
`12:33: geelrlngs
`au
`02000 Chung el al.
`402000 Kamakura ct aI.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Le I-Iien I.uu
`Assistant Exnrttiner—Stephen Willett
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Oppenheimer, Wolff &
`Donnelly LLl’; Claude A. S. l-Iamrick
`
`(5?)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for enabling users to exchange group electronic
`mail by establishing individual profiles and criteria,
`for
`determining personalized subsets within a group. Users
`establish subscriptions to an electronic mailing list by speci—
`fying user profile data and acceptance criteria data to screen
`other users, When a user subscribes, a web server establishes
`and stores an individualized recipient
`list including each
`matching subscriber and their degree of one-way or mutual
`match with the user. When the user then sends a message to
`the mailing list, an email server retrieves 100% her matches
`and then optionally filters her recipient
`list down to a
`message distribution list using each recipient’s message
`criteria. The message is then distributed to matching users.
`Additionally, email archives and information contributions
`from users are stored in a database. Aweb server creates an
`individualized set of web pages for a user from the database,
`containing contributions onlyr from users in his recipient list.
`In other embodiments, users apply one—way or mutual
`criteria matching and message profile criteria to other group
`forums, such as web-based discussion boards, chat, online
`clubs, USENET newsgroups, voicernail. instant messaging,
`web browsing side channel communities, and online gaming
`rendezvous.
`
`22 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`202
`
`ESTABLISH
`(.‘RITERIA AND
`PROFILE
`
`
`OBTAIN CRITERIA
`AND PROFllJi. DA'I'A
`FROM USERS.
`
`I’MAMEI EH5.
`
`
`CALCULATE
`24‘?
`
`
`MATCHES
`
`
`BPIIWVFE‘I USERS.
`
`
`
`
`_____ 7
`24:
`I
`___1~c_ .___r___
`
`,w :1.
`| RECEIVE MIESSAGE.
`I-OIITAIN PROFILE 25.9
`@
`224
`I
`DATA FROM
`1 PROFILE DATA. AND
`
`I RECEIVE snisssfih‘,
`USERS
`
`
`
`FROM UNKNOWN
`CRITERIA DATA
`
`I
`CRITERJADATA
`I'PROFILE DATA. AND
`i FROM UNKNOWN
`
`I
`arm-Tore
`25“
`I MESSAGE FROM
`
`I PROFILED es ER.
`
`255
`
`
`
`
`I
`
`it
`CRITERIA
`OBTAIN
`I
`'DA'I'AFROM
`l
`USER:
`I
`
`31‘6
`RECEIVE A
`
`MESSAGE FROM A
`
`
`KNOWN USER.
`
`
`
`|
`
`III-7mm USERS.
`
`
`
`SEND MES SAGE TU
`MATCHED SUBSET
`0F LBERS.
`
`,3 _ ct?—sEND
`I MESSAGE TO
`I ALL USERS.
`l
`
`1
`
`LYFT 1051
`
`LYFT 1051
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`C's
`GEOGRAi’ii‘Y
`
`OF INRERESQ
`
`B’S
`
`GEOGRAPHY
`
`0F 1NTEREST
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`(assay-mfigfl‘"
`1" 5mg”; “.81-.-
`
`}
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`._2250
`
`
`
`
`am.3:952298;.mofimmw‘fimwammEJ.’Ma_.__amamGElI
`20%5%?_a._#RN1{EmulmlmL3.0E_4mm:_.mmmm:20%
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`mama:_535%meQz<{two
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`2302M_Efimmwwo___29Emo<mmm2_$6.95_.92...w.95lmwwmumumL.mmmm:Efim
`
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`il.3lllllHZ:l\1i>fl.<29:mwémmz__i|EN_<arm—oweR._a.05___2mm:
`
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`mzmlmLoh8%?02mm
`
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`a:OE”8H.95
`
`3
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 0f15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`302
`BASE USER PROFILE
`UNIQUE ID
`USERNAME
`PASSWORD
`:DM 5
`DRES
`EMAILADDRESS
`
`
`
`306
`
`
`
` SUBSCRIPTION
`UNIQUE ID
`
`USERNAME
`MAILING LIST NAME:
`N USER'S NAME FOR SUBSCRIPTION
`PROFILELINI‘
`PROFILEIOJNT
`PROFREIWSTRING PROFH£10_STRING
`
`PCRITERIA1_INT
`PCRITER1A10_INT
`N PCRIT‘EUA1_STRWG PCRITERIA10_STRING
`
`MCRITERIAIJNT MCRITERIAIOJNT
`MCRITEZRIALSTRING MCRI'TERLAIO_STRDIG
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`320
`
`MATCHES
`
`SUBSCRIPTION #1 UNIQUE ID
`SUBSCRIPTION #2 UNIQUE ID
`DEGREE 0F MATCH
`
`
`
`IEWUL MESSAGE
`IUNIQUE ID
`ISENDEK'S SUBSCRIPTION UNIQUE ID
`
`IMSG PROFIL.E1__[NT....MSG_PROFILE10 lNT
`IMSCiPROFILEl_S”IR...MSG_PR0FII.EHESTR
`
`rPILEPATH 0F FULL MESSAGE 0N INTERNAL NET
`
`N
`
`322
`
`N
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`316
`
`
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`UNIQUE ID
`LIST NAME
`ITEM NAME
`CATEGORY
`DATA TYPE
`RESTRICTIONS
`INPUT PROMPT
`
`
`SUBSCRIPTION TEMPLATE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STORE_IN_C0L
`APPLIES_T0#TABLE
`APPLIES__T0_COLUMN
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`[340
`
`4 6
`
`3
`
`WEB SERVER
`
`
`
`NETWORK WEB
`
`PROTOCOL
`
`
`
`
`342
`
`NETWORK
`EMAIL
`
`PROTOCOL
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`352
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`208
`/
`
`SUBSCRIBING TO THE
`
`"NEIGHBORHOOD" MAILING LIST
`
`® RESIDENT
`0 BUSINESS
`
`WHO DO YOU WANT TO EMAIL WITH:
`
`El RESIDENTS
`EIBUSINESSES
`
`PEOPLE WITHIN
`2 MILES OF YOU
`
`410
`
`416
`
`402
`
`404
`
`406
`
`408
`
`412
`
`41
`
`WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
`
`EXCHANGE EMAIL ABOUT:
`
`E NEWS
`|:| RECOMMENDATIONS
`El OTHER
`
`CONTENT SEARCH : NOT "FOR SALE"
`
`FIG. 4
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`4f 3108‘
`
`
`.25
`_
`.
`242 _
`2 2252322222323 22::
`;.
`2222223 32223
`
`
`
`'
`
`..
`
`-
`
`
`
`
`
`3202222 5222232222222022;
`
`224.2
`_
`1.
`2
`222221230222ij 212212222232 55:
`
`
`'
`2722222232 222022.222
`_
`;
`
`i 22222 222022 USER AND '
`--------
`-
`
`
`
`
`_ x252
`
`_
`32232223: 222 22222232233 "
`220222222222222
`
`
`............. 5...........
`.
`32252242220223 1N
`
` ' WERW‘I‘22'
`"
`23222222222523
`
`_ 2222222222223 2232 22:2
`
`s2EBSC‘RIBE 22:2
`_
`.r‘”
`-
`
`r" If USER, "a
`SWAN S2235€R12220N g;
`CM
`ACCEPTS
`I".
`
`
`
`SLRSSCKRYITEQNP
`mmxmcum
`2
`
`f
`2262:2322222N223 CRFERREA
`
`%
`23222202.:‘022220’2
`<
`
`_ NERSPEIFIES
`
`MCEFTANCE -
`.....
`
`21222222
`
`
`“‘71.
`i
`{2222. 223522
`Imam/22:22 N22252::
`H OH 22222223222223
`
`
`
`
`
`
`220
`
`
`
`$45?
`
`I 222232222212232232
`
`
`
`
`, 22522312222222 RECENT
`g EMAEi 22222222: 22223
`.SURSCRIPHON 2220222.2)
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 7 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`474
`
`
`SUBSCRIBER LIST
`
`
`FROM DATABASE
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE
`
`476
`
`
`
`GET FIRST
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`
`478
`
`
`
`CALCULATE DEGREE OF
`
`MATCH BETWEEN
`
`SUBSCRIBER AND EACH
`
`OTHER SUBSCRIBER
`
`
`
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`
`
`
`GET NEXT
`
`
`
`
`STORE MATCH
`
`CALCULATIONS IN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MORE
`
`SUBSCRIBERS?
`
`
`DATABASE
`
`FIG. SB
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 8 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`I 448
`
`BEGIN BUILDING
`
`499
`
`COMPLEX DB QUERY TO
`FIND MATCHED USERS:
`
`QUERY = ""
`
`APPEND T0 QUERY TO
`SELECT ONLY
`
`4 91
`
`SUBSCRIPTIONS WHERE
`
`SUBSCRIPTION IS FOR LIST
`
`OF INTEREST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`APPEND TO QUERY TO SELECT
`ONLY SUBSCRIBERS WHO MATCH
`
`493
`
`NEW USER'S ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
`
`
`
`APPEND TO QUERY TO SELECT
`ONLY SUBSCRIBERS FOR WHOM
`
`494
`
`THE NEW USER MATCHES THEIR
`
`ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND QUERY TO
`496
`
`DATABASE SERVER TO
`
`
`DETERMINE SUBSCRIBER
`
`
`
`MATCHES
`
`
`
`
`
`RETURN MATCI—[ED
`
`SUBSCRIBER LIST
`
`
`498
`
`FIG. 6
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 9 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`MATCH
`
`DISPATCH
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 10 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`TO: NElGl-IBORS@,LOCAL2ME.COM
`
`1 236
`
`FROM: YGREENES T@LOCAL2ME.COM (YOLANDA GREENES T)
`S U BJ ECT: FINDING A GOOD REMODELLING CONTRACTOR
`
`DATE: MAY 12, 1998
`
`HI ALL,
`
`LOOKING FOR A GREAT REMODELLER TO HELP US REDO
`OUR KITCHEN. DOES ANYONE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION?
`
`THANKS!
`--Y
`
`TO: NEIGHBORS @LOCAL2ME.COM
`
`FIG. 8
`
`F R0 M : WHOEVER@SOMEWHERE. COM (W. HOEVER)
`SUBJECT: RE: FINDING A GOOD REMODELLING CONTRACTOR
`
`DATE: MAY 12, 1998
`
`I REALLY LIKE FRANK VARNEY. HE'S AN EICI—ILER
`S PECIALIST AND DID A GREAT JOB ON A BIG REMODEL
`FOR US. WE HAD CHECKED HIS REFS BEFOREHAND AND
`HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHER VERY SATISFIED
`C USTOMERS.
`
`—- WILL
`
`YOLANDA GREENEST WROTE:
`
`> OUR KITCHEN. DOES ANYONE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION?
`
`> H] ALL,
`
`; 3
`
`' LOOKING FOR A GREAT REMODELLER TO HELP US REDO
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 11 01'15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`522
`
`TO: NEIGHBORS@LOCAL2ME.COM
`
`I 520
`
`FROM : KELLY@HOTNM.COM (KELLY G.)
`SUBJECT: SINGING?
`
`DATE: MARCH 30, 1998
`5% “ M_____‘_Hmw“_______
`
`555-8484
`
`(#PROFHM
`ZIP=94101-2371
`GENDER=FEMAIE
`AGE=23
`
`#)
`(#CRITERW
`DISTANCE=5 MILES
`GENDER=ANY
`AGE=20—50
`
`526
`
`WANT TO SING WITH OTHER FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
`WE'RE MEETING AT THE LITTLE PARK ON SATURDAY AT 10AM.
`RSVP TO ME AND JOIN US!
`
`-KELLY
`
`FIG. 9
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 12 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`602
`
`IS MESSAGE
`FROM
`
`,_ _ _
`
`| |
`
`
`
`L _
`
`_|
`:
`I
`I
`I
`'
`
`
`607x 1
`1
`IS SENDER‘S
`
`|
`PROFILE
`
`|_
`{ANDCRITERIA
`
`' ‘MATCH SENDER
`
`{ “MESSAGE?
`1 WITHOTHER
`609» / k \
`l
`USERS
`/
`DOES \\
`
`
`--
`/ MESSAGEMEET
`SENDER'S MESSAGE
`
`ACCEPTANCE
`
`
`INCLUDED
`
`L. _.
`
`
`
`CRITERIA?
`
`
`
`
`N0
`
`610
`
`REPLY TO SENDER W'ITH
`
`REJECTION MESSAGE
`
`FIG. 10(1)
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 13 0f 15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`[220
`
`RETRIEVE SENDER'S
`
`COMPLETE RECIPIENT
`
`LIST FROM
`
`MATCHES TABLE
`
`
`
`i— _________ 1.
`i
`__ f 62.0
`_V_
`__
`_
`._
`l
`: Dimuggmmnssm,IEIDTO
`: INCLUDE MATCH SCORE IN
`
`I
`COWCATION
`
`DISTRIBUTE MESSAGE
`TO Riggg‘ggofm
`
`FIG. 10(2)
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 14 0f15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
` 66
`
`I— ___________
`
`
`A USER SENDS
`
`
`MESSAGE TO MAILING
`RUN DB QUERY TO
`
`DETERMINE USERS
`LIST VIA WEB FORM
`
`
`
`THAT SENDER IS
`
`MATCHED 100% TO
`
`
` [_
`MESSAGE
`I FILTER LIST DOWN
`IS FROM
`
`A SUBSCRIBER?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE MEET
`6 78
`
`SENDER‘S MESSAGE
`
`
`ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA?
`
`
`BY APPLYING EACH
`I USER‘S MESSAGE
`l
`ACCEPTANCE
`| CRITERIA AGAINST
`MESSAGE BEING
`I
`SENT
`
`I
`
`DISTRIBUTE MESSAGE
`
`I l I I I I
`
`{
`
`I
`I
`|
`I
`
`I I I I I I I I I I |I
`
`
`TO RESULTING LIST
`
`
`
`6 70
`
`NO
`
`REPLY TO SENDER WITH
`REJECTION MES SAGE
`
`
`
`FIG. 11
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 12, 2002
`
`Sheet 15 0f15
`
`US 6,480,885 B1
`
`E T :____ ”:L _____
`T APPEND CONDITION TO
`QUERY FOR ONLY MESSAGES
`J WHERE MESSAGE PROFILE
`I MEETS USER‘S CRITERIA
`
` I
`
`I I l l l | I
`
` USER GOES TO
`
`§§§$¥§$§£§§§£
`
`USER LOGS IN WITH
`
`USERNAME/PAS SWORD
`
`USER SELECTS "READ
`MESSAGES" FEATURE
`FROM WEB PAGE
`
`F‘“ ~—— — i _ _._
`I
`I
`ADD
`RA
`I
`J Clilgggm THE
`I
`I
`SPECIFIED FOR
`‘
`|
`TMEISEKSION
`|
`SYSTEM STARTS BUILDING DB
`
`
`I
`.
`I
`QUERY STRING TO FIND
`MATCHED MESSAGES: START
`I
`I.
`
`WITH CONDITION TO QUERY FOR
`
`
`I
`ONLY MESSAGES USER HASN‘T
`
`ALREADY READ
`
`| l I | l l l | I
`
`
`
`SEND QUERY TO DBMS TO
`SELECT MESSAGES TO
`
`SHOW THE USER
`
`l
`
`| |
`
`APPEND CONDITION TO
`
`
`
`QUERY FOR ONLY MESSAGES
`
`WHERE POSTING USER
`
`
`MEETS USER'S CRITERIA
`
`
`
`DISPLAY MATCHED
`MESSAGES TO USER
`
`USER READS MESSAGES
`
`:
`l
`|_ - _ __ H L _____ I
`.
`APPEND CONDITION TO
`I QUERY FOR ONLY MESSAGES
`IWHERE USER MEETS POSTING
`4
`USER‘S CRITERIA
`I
`
`| | l I
`
`AND SYSTEM KEEPS TRACK OF WHAT'S BEEN READ
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`US 6,480,885 B]
`
`l
`DYNAMICAILY MATCHING USERS FOR
`GROUP COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON A
`THRESHOLD DEGREE 0F MATCHING Oli
`SENDER AND RECIPIENT
`PREDE’I'ERMINED ACCEPTANCE
`CRITERIA
`
`REFERENCE TO RELAI‘ED APPLICA'I‘IONS
`
`'lhis application is a Continuation-in Part of PCI‘iUS99t
`2l589 filed Sep. [5, 1999 which claims priority to provi-
`sional patent application Ser. No. 60i100,387, filing date
`Sep. 15, 1998, entitled "Electronic Match-Making Within A
`Group Using Criteria.” This application also claims priority
`to provisional patent application Ser. No. 6(Ii115,566, filing
`date Jan. 12, 1999, entitled “Dynamic MatchingTM of Users
`For Group Communication” and provisional patent applica—
`tion Ser. No. 60il43,947, filing date .lul. 15, 1999, entitled
`"Dynamic Matching1M of Users For Group Communica-
`tion."
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of Invention
`This invention relates to electronic communication within
`group forums, specifically a process for dynamically match-
`ing users for high quality interactions within a group forum
`by establishing individual user profile data and acceptance
`criteria data for restricting interaction.
`2. Discussion of Prior Art
`
`There are many systems that allow users and groups of
`users to interact with each other. Electronic forums such as
`electronic mail, voieemail, USENET newsgroups, Web-
`based discussion boards, and online multiwplayer gaming
`services all have such facilities. But none of the systems
`gives users individualized acceptance criteria parameters for
`locating high quality matches with other users. Each forum
`is created with a particular subject or objective in mind, and
`beyond that all users must follow the boundaries of that
`forum. It is strictly a "take it or leave it“ proposition to the
`user. There is little opportunity for a user to personalize the
`forum to meet his own needs.
`With electronic mail, users must know the email
`addresses of those they want to contact. Electronic mailing
`lists improved on this for group communication by redis~
`tributing each message sent to the list’s email address out to
`all subscribers. All users get all messages sent to the list. But
`there are problems—smaller mailing lists are hard to pro-
`mole and popularize while larger lists are unwieldy, tending
`to have many rules of use and/or a high message volume,
`and a high intimidation factor. In short, users have no control
`over which users on a
`list
`they communicate with. An
`additional problem is not knowing how much email a
`subscription will deliver to you. One subscription may bring
`only a few messages per month while another one fills a
`user’s mailbox with 50 or more messages in a single day.
`One common yet inflexible division within a topic is by
`geographic region. Consider
`a hypothetical worldwide
`"jam" mailing list: If a subscriber wants only to communi-
`cate about jazz with people in New York City, he must create
`a separate mailing list, such as "nyc-jazz”. For most users,
`the work involved in creating and managing a list is pro-
`hibitive. Some regional groups may develop their own jazz
`mailing lists, but such lists are usually tough to advertise and
`promote. Regional
`lists are inflexible because they have
`pre-set borders, e.g., the borders of New York City. That list
`will not meet the needs of users just outside city limits who
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`may have a lot in common with those near them just inside
`city limits, but little in common with those across town.
`Each user’s needs are dilferent and yet the current mailing
`list systems are inflexible in allowing users to express their
`needs and wants via customization.
`
`there is much work involved in forming a
`Similarly,
`neighborhood mailing list. If someone in a particular neigh—
`borhood wants to communicate with neighbors, there are
`many steps he must take. First he must create a mailing list.
`Then he may determine the borders of the neighborhood.
`This is problematic if it is unclear where the borders should
`be, as is the case with many unnamed neighborhoods. And
`then he may advertise and evangelize the mailing list
`to
`build subseribership. Since most neighborhoods do not have
`any channel for information distribution (such as a printed
`newsletter), this is a daunting task.
`To extend the example, dilIerent people have dilIerent
`wants and needs even within geographically regional com-
`munication. In FIG. 1, one person (A) may want to exchange
`email with others within a one-mile radius of him. Asecond
`person (B) may only want to exchange email with thoseion
`his block. A third person (C) may want only to exchange
`email with folks in one direction from his house. However,
`there is currently no way for users to express these desires
`to control heir participation in a mailing list.
`There are countless meaningful acceptance criteria that
`would benefit users. Consider a parenting mailing list. In
`general, once a mailing list is formed, it tends to develop its
`own scope of interest. In this example, the parenting list may
`develop a very strong trend of discussing infants and tod-
`dlers. This can be very limiting for a subscriber who wants
`to discuss teenagers. That subscriber must delete many
`unwanted messages and may simply unsuhscrihe from the
`list in frustration. She may consider a search for a better list,
`or she may consider starting a separate mailing list
`for
`parents of teenagers, but again the barrier to entry is high.
`Since the mailing list system cannot leverage information
`about the ages of children each subscriber is interested in, it
`cannot deliver to her just those messages about teenagers.
`In online gaming, such as. “Yahoo! Games“, users are able
`to rendezvous with other users to play multi-player games,
`such as the card game “hearts”. The service provider will
`often divide the players into several forums based on ability,
`such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. But it does,
`not allow users to specify other acceptance criteria data,
`such as personality, computer speed, or amount of “chat-
`style” conversation they want to engage in during a game.
`Thus users must either live with low quality matches or
`resort to trial and error, quitting games in the middle, in a
`search for the characteristics they want in the game. Again
`the user’s only choice is "take it or leave it."
`A number of email based news and information services
`such as lnfoBeal provide customized messages to their
`subscribers, but the messages are only sent by the service
`itself, not by other users. It is meant for automated infor-
`mation delivery, not interpersonal communication and inter-
`action.
`
`Dating services and employee-employer matching ser-
`vices use criteria and profile information to match people
`together, but
`they use those results only for one-oncne
`communication. hey have not used matching technology for
`group communication in which each user has their own
`personalized group.
`Although the discussion here has been principally of the
`interaction provided by electronic mailing lists, other group
`forums such as USENET newsgroups, web-based discussion
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`US 6,480,885 B1
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`3
`message boards. ah online gaming rendezvous are alterna-
`tives that exhibit similar problems.
`Thus, a method is needed for creating high quality inter-
`actions within electronic forms.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Briefly, a presently preferred embodiment of the present
`invention is directed to a method for users to exchange group
`electronic mail by establishing individual profiles and cri-
`teria for determining personalized subsets within a group.
`Users establish subscriptions to an electronic mailing list by
`specifying user profile data and acceptance criteria data to
`screen other users. When a user subscribes, a web server
`establishes and stores an individualized recipient list includ—
`ing each matching subscriber and their degree of one-way or
`mutual match with the user.
`
`When the user then ”sends a message to the mailing list,
`an email server retrieves her 100% matches and then option-
`ally filters her recipient list down to a message distribution
`list using each recipient’s message criteria. The message is
`then distributed to matching users.
`Additionally, email archives and information contribu-
`tions from users are stored in a database. A web server
`creates an individualized set of web pages for a user from the
`database, containing contributions only from users in his
`recipient list. In other embodiments, users apply one-way or
`mutual criteria matching and message profile criteria to
`other group forums. such as web-based discussion boards,
`chat, online clubs, USENET newsgroups, voicemail, instant
`messaging, web browsing side channel communities, and
`online gaming rendezvous.
`OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
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`Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the ~
`present invention are:
`(a) Creates personalized, tunable groups for users, using
`user prolile data and acceptance criteria data they
`specify. This fundamental novelty greatly empowers
`and enriches the quality of their communications.
`(b) Greatly reduces the quantity of electronic forums such
`as electronic mailing lists, by making possible a small
`number very broad forums within which users can
`create their own niches. For instance, a single jazz
`mailing list can serve the entire world.
`(clAllows users to very easily create discussion niches of
`meaning to them. They may want to only email with
`other senior citizens, or only with those in their city. In
`the parenting example given earlier, each user could
`specify the children’s age range they would like to
`discuss. The resulting mailing list
`is tuned to each
`user’s needs, and gives them a much higher quality of
`interpersonal contact.
`((1) Provides a way for meaningful groups to form
`automatically, such as neighborhoods.
`(e) Provides a way of filtering archived infon'nation
`provided by subscribers into individualized archives.
`This includes email archives as well as other informa-
`tion such as recommended businesses and web sites.
`Additional objects and advantages are to benefit society
`by creating and uniting a huge number of niche groups, and
`to meet a compelling and immediate user need to customize
`email list communications according to individual profiles.
`By dynamically matching each user’s profile data and accep-
`tance criteria data to others, the system creates a customized
`group for each user, enabling groups to form automatically.
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`Users need a fluid, flexible, and expressive means of
`controlling their interactions with others. They need to be
`able to drastically increase the quality of communication,
`while controlling the quantity of it. This invention enables
`these users to customize their communications and interac-
`tions.
`Further objects and advantages of my invention will
`become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and
`ensuing description.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`is an example of neighborhood residents with
`I
`FIG.
`different geographies of interest.
`FIG. 2 is an overview of use of the present invention.
`FIG. 3A is an overview of the invention’s system’s
`database.
`
`FIG. SB describes the data flow to and from the system
`servers.
`
`FIG. 4 is an example of a user interface for subscribing to
`a mailing list.
`FIG. 5A is a flowchart of the user subscription process.
`FIG. SB is a flowchart depicting the process for deter-
`mining subscriber matches.
`FIG. 6 is an alternative flowchart for determining sub-
`scriber matches.
`
`FIG. 7 is another alternative llowcharl for determining
`subscriber matches.
`
`FIG. 8 is an example of users sending email messages to
`a mailing list.
`FIG. 9 is an example of an unknown user sending an email
`message to a mailing list, including profile and criteria data.
`FIG. 10(1) is a flowchart of the message distribution
`process to mailing list subscribers.
`FIG. 10(2) is a flowchart of the message distribution
`process to mailing list subscribers.
`FIG. 11 is an alternative flowchart of the message distri-
`bution process to mailing list subscribers.
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment in
`
`which the user reads messages in a web-based discussion
`forum.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
`
`A presently preferred embodiment of the present inven-
`tion uses exchange of electronic mail as its medium The
`detailed description to follow will focus on an electronic
`mailing list system in which subscribers specify acceptance
`criteria data for engagement and then benefit
`from the
`ensuing interaction. It will be clear to those skilled in the art
`that there are many alternative electronic forums in which
`the invention could be applied. These include, but are not
`limited to, voicemail, instant messaging, videoconferencing,
`online chat, web-based discussion boards, USENET,
`newsgroups, online gaming, online gaming rendezvous, and
`unified messaging.
`Although the discussion here focuses on the intemet
`network for its preferred embodiment, obviously any auto-
`mated means for group communication may be used for the
`present invention.
`Overview of Use:
`Referring to FIG. 2, the numeral 200 generally refers to an
`overview of the use of the present invention. In block 202,
`a service provider using the invention initializes the system
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`US 6,480,885 B1
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`5
`for the first time. The service provider initializes a database,
`or a dedicated part of a database, on a database server
`available to both an email server and a web server. This is
`done using a database system, including a schema, data, and
`a Database Management System (DBMS). The database
`system is a product such as those from Oracle or Sybase. The
`service provider sets up the email server to receive and send
`email on the internet. They also set up the web server to
`allow subscribers access to the web site via the internet. The
`database server, email server, and web server each contain a
`portion of the present
`invention. In the preferred embodin
`merit the servers are separate, but alternatively their func-
`tions could be combined into fewer servers or expanded to
`more servers.
`
`The service provider then creates one or more electronic
`mailing lists by adding mailing list records and related
`records to tables in the database. This is accomplished using
`a method provided by the database system. The service
`provider also establishes acceptance criteria data parameters
`and user profile data parameters for each mailing list which
`describe what acceptance criteria data and user profile data
`is to be collected from the users.
`Al block 208, a user visits the web site and subscribes to
`a mailing list, specifying user profile data and acceptance
`criteria data that control with whom and about what topics
`they wish to interact. The system stores this and other
`subscription information in the database. At block 212, one
`or more servers calculate the degree of matches between the
`user and every other user, by doing a one way or two-way
`match between users, using their user profile data and
`acceptance criteria data. The results of these match calcu—
`lations are stored in a database table or other storage.
`At block 16 the system receives an email message from a
`known user addressed to an email address on la server the
`service provider’s server. Note that while in this preferred
`embodiment we use an email message as the vehicle of a
`communication, any means of electronic or automated com-
`munication may be used in its place. This email address is
`the address dedicated by the service provider as the email
`address of the mailing list be subscribed to at block 208. At
`block 220 the system determines which mailing list sub-
`scribers within the list’s subscriber base should receive the
`
`email message, by finding in the database the results of the
`match calculations done in block 212. It then distributes the
`email message across the internet to the matching subscrib~
`ers.
`
`The end result of the process is that users exchange high
`quality messages with other matching risers, and sub-groups
`form automatically within the mailing list.
`the following
`To sum up the functionality, consider
`example. Suppose a user Barry wants to send a message
`about a problem at his child’s school. A school mailing list
`has been established in advance by a service provider
`hosting the mailing list. Barry first signs up for the school
`mailing list, specifying his profile and criteria information,
`including his location and his geography of interest. The
`system then calculates matches between Barry and other
`people already on the mailing list based on their profiles and
`criteria. Barry then writes an email message and addresses
`it to the email address for his local school mailing list, at the
`service provider’s email server, school@loca12me.corn. The
`email server receives the message and retrieves Barry’s
`Match calculations from the database. This describes the
`other subscribers he is matched with. His message is then
`sent out to users with whom Barry forms a 100% match,
`resulting in a satisfying interaction with a subset of users—
`all the right people.
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`The remainder of FIG. 2 details several alternative
`embodiments of the invention that we will now describe.
`In an alternative embodiment, block 220 is replaced with
`block 238. The message is distributed to all users who are
`subscribers of the mailing list, and each message indicates
`the degree of match between the sender and receiver.
`In yet another alternative embodiment,
`the message is
`received from a known user before the match calculation is
`done.
`In this embodiment, blocks 228 and 234 replace
`blocks 212 and 216. In step 228 the system receives a
`message from a known user. Then in block 234 it calculates
`the matches between users, and uses those results in blocks
`220 and 238 in the manner previously discussed.
`In still another alternative embodiment,
`the message
`received is from an unknown user, and contains user profile
`data and acceptance criteria data encoded within the mes—
`sage. Blocks 224 and 234 replace blocks 212 and 216. At
`bloek 224, the system receives a communication from an
`unknown user, including the message content, user profile
`data, and acceptance criteria data. Then in block 234 it
`calculates the matches between users, and uses those results
`in blocks 22" and 238 in the manner previously discussed.
`In another alternative embodiment, the system receives a
`message from an unknown user before obtaining criteria and
`profile data from other users. Blocks 242, 246, and 234
`replace blocks 208, 212, and 216. Al block 242, the system
`receives a communication from an unknown user, including
`the message content, user profile data, and acceptance
`criteria data. In block 246 the system obtains acceptance
`criteria data and user profile data from a multiplicity of
`users. Then in block 234 it calculates the matches between
`users, including the unknown user who sent the message,
`and uses those results in blocks 220 and 238 in the manner
`previously discussed.
`the system obtains
`In another alternative embodiment,
`user profile data first,
`then receives a message from a
`profiled user, and then obtains acceptance criteria data
`before calculating matches and sending the message. Blocks
`250, 254, 258, and 234 replace blocks 208, 212, and 216. At
`block 250, the system obtains user profile data about users
`via a web form presented to the users, an email message
`from the users, an inference engine, a search engine, or
`another source. The system stores this and other subscription
`information in the database. At block 254 the system
`receives a message from a profiled user, i.e., a user who has
`a known profile. The user sending the message will either
`transmit his acceptance criteria data with the message or he
`will specify it with other profiled users at block 258. At
`block 258, the system obtains acceptance criteria data about
`its profiled users by one or more of the methods described
`for block 250. In block 234 the system then calculates the
`matches between users, including the profiled user who sent
`the message. and uses those results in blocks 220 and 238 in
`the manner previously discussed.
`Turning to FIG. 3A, numeral 300 generally refers to a
`description of the database schema and relationships
`between entities (Entityi’Relationship diagram). The data-
`base in this preferred embodiment is a collection of tables of
`information. as is typically stored in a database product such
`as Oracle. In the diagram, relationships between tables are
`shown with ‘1‘ or 'n’, as will be familiar to those skilled in
`the art, to indicate the relative number of related records
`between each pair of tables.
`in the description below, we refer to a database record’s
`(or table row’s} unique ID. This is also commonly called
`"Row ID“, “Record ID", "Object ID", or “010" by those
`skilled in the art, and is simply a unique identifier for each
`row in a table.
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`7
`At block 302