Patent ID: 6061681
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A computer-implemented system for matching people with each other, the system comprising:a) a main computer server connectable to the Internet;b) a plurality of local servers connectable to the main computer server via a proprietary network, each of the local servers accessible via a telephone connected to a telephone network; andc) a database of user information distributed over the main computer server and the local servers,wherein each of the local servers and the main computer server comprises: means for a particular user to update and read at least a portion of the database so as to match the particular user with at least one other user of the system,wherein the main computer server provides means to update and read the database via a user computer connected to the Internet to access a server page; andwherein the local servers provide means to update and read the database via a telephone connected via the telephone network, said means to update and read the database via a telephone comprising means for generating a voice response to the telephone and means for receiving DTMF tones from the telephone, said system implementing, in an on-line dating service, a method of searching a database of subscriber information in order to find at least one subscriber matching user search criteria, the subscriber information including preferences of subscribers to the service, wherein the users access the database by at least one of a telephone and a computer, wherein the subscriber information includes a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber, the method comprising, by computer:(A) repeatedly(a) searching the database for records matching search criteria of a user, and(b) relaxing at least some of the search criteria, until at least a required number of matching records are found, wherein the required number of matching records is never less than one;(B) reporting the matching records to the user, including(a) reporting a degree of match for each reported record; and(b) indicating, for each reported record, a degree of match of each of the search criteria,(C) reordering the matching entries according to at least one of:(a) a date of last payment of a use fee by each subscriber and(b) a date of last updating of a personal profile by each subscriber,wherein when the entries are reordered according to the date of last payment, the matching entries having a more recent date of the last payment are reported before others of the matching entries; andwhen the entries are reordered according to the date of last updating, the matching entries having a more recent data of last updating are reported before others of the matching entries, andwherein the search criteria include at least one of: a gender preference; a geographic location preference; an age preference; appearance preferences; religious belief preferences; educational level preferences; and a goal preference; andwherein the goal preference is one of ""romance""; ""friendship"" or ""a walk on the wild side""; andwherein the geographic location preference is at least one of: a postal code, a country a city, a suburb, a block, or a street; andwherein the gender preference search criterion is never relaxed, andwherein the geographic location preference search criterion is only relaxed after other search criteria have been relaxed.