US5950200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detection of reciprocal interests or feelings and subsequent notification
Assignee: DOYOUDO Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-24
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Granted: 1999-09-07
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Expires: 2017-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for automating the process of confidentially determining whether people feel mutual attraction or have mutual interests and for automating the process of notifying the people involved of such a match in feelings or interests, while allowing anonymity if no mutual attraction or interests exist. A computer system receives inputs from various persons indicating the identities of persons for whom they feel attraction or with whom they share mutual interests. The system collects this information and periodically searches for matches, i.e., for mutual attractions or interests that have been entered into the system. No notification occurs unless the system determines that a match in attraction or interests exists. If a first person's feelings or interests are not mirrored by a second person, the system will not notify either person and only the computer system will be aware of the first person's feelings for the second person.
Inventors
- 👤 Gil S. Sudai
- 👤 David J. Blumberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42008; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4536; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising the steps, performed by a processor of a data processing system having a memory, of: receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and if and only if a match occurs in both of the determining steps, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising the steps, performed by a processor of a data processing system having a memory, of: receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and if and only if a match occurs in both of the determining steps, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the determining steps are performed at a predetermined interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, where the determining steps are performed immediately after receiving user input.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, where the determining steps and the notification step are performed at a predetermined "notification time."
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein if the first user's feelings are not mirrored by the second user, the system will not notify either user and only the computer system will be aware of the first user's feelings for the second user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a person includes receiving input from the first user through the World Wide Web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a person includes receiving input from the first user by way of e-mail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a person includes receiving input from the first user by way of an interactive telephone system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a person includes receiving input from the first user by way of software executing on an online service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a person includes receiving input from the first user by way of software executing on another data processing system in a network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: registering the first user; and assigning a password to the first user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second users also enter a type of attraction and wherein the determining steps determine that a match has occurred only when the first and second users also enter the same type of attraction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second users also enter a type of attraction, and wherein the determining steps determine that a match has occurred no matter what types of attraction the first and second users enter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second user IDs are one of the group including: a user name, an e-mail address, a social security number, a drivers license number, a telephone number, a name, a name with a geographic location, and a public key.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second user IDs also include a geographic designation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving, from the first user and the second user a type of attraction, including one of "love," "like," and "desire."
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first user or the second user enters the ID of more than one person in whom they have an interest.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the notification step automatically sends an e-mail message to the first user and the second user notifying them that a match has occurred.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the notification step automatically places a telephone call to the first user and the second user notifying them that a match has occurred.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the notification step automatically displays notifications on a personal Web pages of the first and of the second users, notifying them that a match has occurred.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from the first user further includes the step of implementing a rule about how many persons can be chosen for each type of attraction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving input from the first user further includes the step of implementing a rule concerning the frequency with which persons can be changed by the users.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented for users of a specific geographic location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented for users who belong to a specific institution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented for users who are affiliated with a specific organization.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first user is a birthparent and the second user is an adopted child.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to the data processing system receiving the input of the first user, which indicates interest in the second user, but before receiving the input of the second user, sending a prompt to the second user that someone has indicated interest in the second user, without saying who it was that indicated interest, thereby prompting the second user to enter one or more IDs of people in whom the second user has an interest.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising: a first input portion, configured to receive input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; a second input portion, configured to receive input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; a first determining portion, coupled to the first and second input portions, configured to determine whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; a first determining portion, coupled to the first and second input portions, configured to determine whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and a notifying portion, coupled to the first and second determining portions, configured to notify the first user and the second user if and only if the first and second determining portions have detected a match.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising: a first input portion, configured to receive input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; a second input portion, configured to receive input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; a first determining portion, coupled to the first and second input portions, configured to determine whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; a first determining portion, coupled to the first and second input portions, configured to determine whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and a notifying portion, coupled to the first and second determining portions, configured to notify the first user and the second user if and only if the first and second determining portions have detected a match.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising: means for receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; means for receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; means for determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user and for determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and means for, coupled to the determining means, if and only if a match occurs in both of the determining means, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus that notifies people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, comprising: means for receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; means for receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; means for determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user and for determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and means for, coupled to the determining means, if and only if a match occurs in both of the determining means, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: a portion configured to send, in response to the apparatus receiving the input of the first user, which indicates interest in the second user, but before receiving the input of the second user, to send a prompt to the second user that someone has indicated interest in the second user, without saying who it was that indicated interest, thereby prompting the second user to enter one or more IDs of people in whom the second user has an interest.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
239 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for notifying people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, including: computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect, if and only if a match occurs in both of the programming code devices, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
239 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for notifying people that they feel reciprocal interest for each other, including: computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect receiving input from a first user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the first user has an interest, the first user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect receiving input from a second user indicating a user ID of a specific person in whom the second user has an interest, the second user already being aware of the existence of the person whose ID they entered; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the first user has an interest matches a user ID of the second user; computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect determining whether the user ID of the person in whom the second user has an interest matches a user ID of the first user; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect, if and only if a match occurs in both of the programming code devices, notifying the first user and the second user that a match has occurred.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |