Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-06-19
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C707S793000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249282
ABSTRACT:
APPENDIX
This application includes a computer program appendix
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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 characteristics. 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 affiliation. However, religious affiliation 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 available. 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 respondent. This can decrease the chances of forming a desired ongoing relationship, friendship, or other form of association. 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 personal advertisements on various web sites. One such example is an on-line personal advertisement system having 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 requesting 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 requirements 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 candidates meeting the criteria of 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 THE 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 characteristic data of the first user meets the criteria data of the at least one other user, communication means provide information 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 information. 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 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.
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patent
Dunn Kevin A.
Sutcliffe Andrew B
Bayerl Raymond J.
Nguyen Thomas T.
Nutter & McClennen & Fish LLP
Tele-Publishing, Inc.
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