AU2004203359A1 - Date Pool Methods and Software - Google Patents

Description

DATE POOL METHOD AND DATABASE Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to software and methods for online dating services, and specifically to methods and software facilitating the location and identification of users, one to another, for the purpose of dating, primarily based on each user's time of availability and location, but also on dating interests or other criteria.

Description of Related Art Internet-based dating services provide a web interface for the matching of people for the purpose of meeting and dating. These services grant membership to users who enter personal information and preferences that are stored as records in a dating service database. Members and in some cases, guests (together "users") enter search parameters and are presented with a list of matching records in response to a query. Several payment strategies are used including membership fees and fees paid for contacting a matching member. In general, business success is increased based on users being matched by the service search facility. Additionally, in a commercial environment, the service providing the better matching service will have a competitive advantage.

Current dating services provide a range of searchable attributes and preferences for member records. This range allows both broad and narrow specification of matching parameters, which serve to expand or limit the number of matching records. However, known systems do not allow users to focus their searching for users that are available at a specific time or for a specific type of date. It is therefore desirable to have a dating service database that provides a user interface, which returns matching records that are useful to arrange a specific type of outing or date at a specific time.

UTIL Image Capture Process Current dating systems are designed for one-to-one matching, where a searching user selects one or more of the matching records for personal contact. The result of the contact is first a correspondence by say email, then a meeting of the two people involved. Many people looking for dates, however, may wish to have one or more initial dates be in a group rather than one-to-one. Current on-line dating systems provide little or no support for these types of group activities, rather they are geared to matching one-toone.

Many current dating services allow for the specification of desired date activities. Activities are, however, also dependent of the participants' individual schedules. For example, two users wishing to have a date including a movie may be matched by a prior art service, even if one user were available only on weekdays and the other only on weekends. For a number of reasons, including time and privacy, users are reluctant to enter their personal schedules into a dating service. Even if the dating service provided such a function, it is likely that the personal schedules would quickly become out of date and therefore useless for matching purposes. What is needed is a simple way for members to register availability for specific activities on specific dates or within a specific date range.

Summary And Objects Of The Present Invention An embodiment of the present invention allows users of a dating service to register for a date pool by specifying one or more specific events that are entered into a database. A date pool is a collection of such member records.

Users may search within the date pool by specifying, for example, location and time but also gender, age, activity, and group or personal date. Matching members may be contacted by e-mail, phone or short message service (SMS), postal mail, instant message, dating service initiated invitation, or other method.

UTIL Image Capture Process In some embodiments standardised impersonal contacts with another member are free while unrestricted forms of contact carry a fee.

Members may unregister from date pools at any time to prevent further matches.

Brief Description Of The Drawings For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating some of the steps of the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sample web registration page; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a sample status and de-registration page; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a sample search parameter screen; and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a sample search results page.

Description Of The Preferred Embodiments The present invention provides one or more date pools for a dating service.

One embodiment of the invention comprises the following steps: 1. A web based dating service C'service") establishes a database or an available portion of a larger database, referred to as a date pool.

2. The service accepts users registrations for the pool by storing submitted personal data that includes at least their availability for a date on at least one specific day.

3. Users use a form provided by the service to search for registered users by any of a number of criteria and the service receives a query from a searching user.

UTIL3- Image Capture Process UTIL Image Capture Process 4. The service provides a reply to a query so that matching records from the date pool are displayed on a searching user's display device.

The searching user may select one or more records for further action including: a. view member profile b. send free standard date invitation c. send member via e-mail, phone, or SMS for a fee d. add to a list of favourites In practice, a date pool database or database sub-set is set up by a dating service administrator. Initially, the date pool database is empty, having no registered users. A user registers for the date pool by submitting a webbased form to the service that provides the user's attributes and optionally, preferences. For example, a user indicates their geographic region, specific calendar date or dates or availability, preferred activity type, and perhaps attributes of members sought by the registrant. A free form text "comments" field maybe available on the form to provide more precise searching options for searching users. The attributes may include any of the defined user attributes and preferences. Typically, these would include availability in time, gender, age range, and geographic regions for preferred members of the date pool. A user may also include a preference such whether a personal or group date is sought. It should be remembered that the date pool may be automatically populated with user data that the dating service already has regarding the registrant age, gender, nick name, location), making the registration process simpler and more information rich.

It is important that the registrant user specify a day or days that they are available. Preferably the day or days will be in the immediate futures, say within 10 days or so. This creates a focus for the users, and a pragmatic limitation to excessive or frivolous registration. It also creates more certainty for the searching user that a reasonable match, within a reasonable time frame will be found. This requirement for specificity may be compulsory for UTIL Image Capture Process registrants.

A user of the data pool searches for available registered users based on attributes, preferences or keywords. A user may search for other users that are available at a specific time, or time and place, or by other attributes regardless of time. In this later example, time is not specified in the search parameters, but availability in time is indicated by the search results generated by the query. The dating service may limit the number of days or events a user is registered for.

Submission of a dating service's form, for example by internet or mobile telephone network invokes a dating service search engine that replies to the query with matching records for further action. The searching user may select one or more of the matching records and contact the corresponding member by e-mail, phone, SMS or dating service generated date invitation.

In preferred embodiments a standardised message may be sent to a selected user at no charge. The standardised message contains an indication of interest or an invitation for further contact etc., but does not contain any of the sender's personal contact details beyond e.g. a user name. The contacted member may then accept the invitation and reply with a personal message, which is paid for by the sender, to provide contact details, organise to meet or otherwise attend the date pool activity with the searching user. In the alternative the contacting user may send a paid message of an unrestricted nature in the first instance.

A registered member of a date pool may unregister at any time to remove their record from being matched by any date pool search request. For example, a member who has accepted a date invitation may unregister to prevent subsequent date pool search matches.

The flow of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. The process 100 is implemented by using a database that is provided by a dating service and accessible to users over the Internet. Users may register 102 by submitting personal information to the database, via the web, using a form. Submitted UTIL Image Capture Process information garnered by the registration form may be augmented with information about the user that is already known or stored by the dating service in respect of the registrant user. In one embodiment, a minimum requirement for registration is an indication of availability for at least one specific day on which to have a date with another user. Once registered, these same details may be searched by other users 110. A web or other communications interface may be used to search for and select from a date pool. In some embodiments, confirmation e-mail, SMS or other message may be sent to the registering member displaying a link to or a list of days or events or potential dates the member has made themselves available for.

The dating service may "push" information 106 to a user notifying them of the availability in the database of potentially available users that match a known criteria. This criteria may be ones established by the searching user for the purpose of being notified or may be garnered from previous user searches recorded by the dating service for such purpose.

In preferred embodiments, a web or other communications interface is subsequently employed by users to search for possible date matches 110.

The user of the interface enters attributes and preferences desired in a match using a form. The dating service search engine then returns member records 108 from the dating service database 104, which match the entered parameters and belong to the selected date pool. The searching user may then further examine information about any of the matching member records.

For example, the user may ask to see additional information, see stored photographs, etc. After review, the user may select to contact the member 114 using one of the available forms 116. The dating service may, for reasons of privacy, not give the searching user the member's contact details.

In this case, the dating service would send on the inviting user's behalf, a standardised or formal invitation to the invited user. The formal invitation will request a reply. This type of invitation is generally free.

UTIL Image Capture Process If the inviting or invited user wishes to have unrestricted contact, such as access to another user's email or telephone number, a fee is paid to the dating service for this information. The dating service charges for unrestricted contact as a source of revenue. Once contacted, a user may select to accept the invitation or not. A contacted user may use the dating service web interface to review the requesting member's stored database records, for example. If the invitation is accepted, the member would unregister from the date pool 112 so that no subsequent searches return a match to the member.

The member may also unregister 112 based on changes in personal schedule and availability, change of mind, or other factors.

Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of the registering user's preferences interface screen 300 seen for example when registering into a date pool. The user expresses preferences by selecting items from lists or drop down menus that may include day or days available 304, preference for individual or group date 306, 308, location 310, activity preference 312 or other criteria corresponding to categories in the column at the left 302. Selecting at least location and day is recommended. For any preference field, "any" is an acceptable selection. A free form text comments fields may be available so that the registrant may indicate customised information content. When satisfied with the selections, the user clicks on the "Register" button 314 to submit the information in the form to the database where the information is stored for later use by the dating service.

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a web interface screen 400 for unregistering from a date pool. The screen includes instructions 402, and tells the user the limitations, for example, shown is a notice that a user is limited to being registered in a maximum of four events or days at any one time 404. The screen lists the potential dates the user is registered for 406, and provides check boxes 408 for selection to unregister from the corresponding items. When the user is satisfies with the selections, clicking the "Deregister" button 410 removes the user from the selected items.

7 UTIL Image Capture Process Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a web interface search screen 500.

The screen includes selection headings 502 for the user to follows to enter search parameters. The searching user selects for example, the day or days of interest 504, and desired gender from a drop-down list 506 having "male", "female", and "either" 508 shown. The user may also select the desired date range from a pair of drop-down lists 510 and 512. The user may select whether to search for members wanting to have a date with one person, a group, or either 514. Finally, the user may select from the check boxes showing available locations 516 and types of activities 518. When all parameters are entered, the user clicks on the "Search" button 520 to start the search.

Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of the reply screen shown as the results of a search 600 of the date pool database. The screen includes instructions 602 and an array of records, one row604, 606 and 608 for each user matching the search parameter(s). Each row may include a member picture or video 610, and dating service nick name or alias, gender and age 628. It also includes a list of actions the user can take for each, including, send an SMS 612, send an e-mail 614, send a date invitation 616, and add the member to the user's list of favourites. Selecting one or more of these actions by clicking on the button or link takes the user to a screen to enter the text of the SMS or e-mail, or a personal note to add to the standard dating service date invitation (shown in figure respectively. Certain forms of messaging may incur a fee to the dating service. When all actions are complete, the user then selects from the navigation choices at the bottom of the screen. The user may search again 620, or return to the dating service home screen 626.

Figure 6 shows one embodiment of an invitation screen the invited user would receive. The screen 700 includes a greeting 702 and a day on which the invited member has indicated that they are available 704. The name and gender of the inviting user are substituted into the body text of the invitation 706, as are age, gender, and location 708. This information may be extracted UT8L Image Capture Process UTIL Image Capture Process from the inviting user's registration details. When received, the invitation includes a link to the inviting user's profile and e.g. photo password 710, which when selected will take the receiving member to a screen to review additional information about the sending user. The invitation also includes actions the recipient can take, including sending a reply e-mail 712, or by sending one of a choice of auto-reply messages selected from a list 714, 716, 718, and 720. When all choices have been made, the replying user selects "Send" 722 to send the e-mail. Restrictions and fees may apply to certain forms of messaging as previously explained.

9 UTIL Image Capture Process

Claims (11)

1. A method for providing information from a data base of a dating service user records, for the purpose of allowing a searching user to identify another user, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a database that is accessible over a network; b. serving a registration form to a registering user; c. receiving a registration form from a registering user, the form indicating the registering user's availability for at least one day and storing information from the form to the database as database records; d. providing a search form to the searching user from which a query is extracted, the query relating to database records; e. serving a reply to the query, the reply comprising one or more entries relating to registered users that have database records that correspond to the query; f. the reply allowing the searching user to display at least some of the other user's records and generate a communication to the other user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the day is a specific day.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the database records further comprise other records provided by the dating service and not supplied by the registering user at the time of registration. UTIL Image Capture Process

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the reply indicates an identity of a registered user that is available on at least one specific day.

The method of claim 1, wherein: a registered user may elect to unregister using a web-based interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein: the reply has a link that allows the searching user to contact a user listed in the reply.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein: the contact is either a standard free contact or an unrestricted fee paid contact.

8. A method of operating an online dating service comprising the steps of: compiling database records relating to users, the records including an availability of a user on day that occurs within a span of days; providing a form from which users can query the database records including a record that indicates the day; replying to the query with a list of corresponding users and a means of contacting the corresponding users.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the day is a specific day.

UTIL Image Capture Process The method of claim 8, wherein: the means of contacting the corresponding users comprises means for sending a free message of a standard format and means for sending a fee paid message that is not in a standard format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein: the registration form includes a comments field and information in the comments field is then searchable by the searching user. UTIL- Image Capture Process