Patent ID: 8831205
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A communication method, comprising: for each of a plurality of users, maintaining a profile comprising a plurality of characteristics of a respective user in a memory system; for each of a first subset of the users, comprising a plurality of users, receiving a request for respective communication opportunities; for each of a second subset of the users, comprising a plurality of users, determining an availability of each respective user for a communication; defining an optimization criterion for matching members of the first subset with members of the second subset, for a plurality of mutually exclusive communications, each between a respective member of the first subset and a respective member of the second subset, the defined optimization criterion having a value dependent on at least an analysis of the plurality of characteristics of each maintained profile for respective members of the first subset and respective members of the second subset, and a valuation of the communications; combinatorially determining, using at least one automated processor, a predicted net benefit to the plurality of users, with respect to the optimization criterion, of a proposed set of respective mutually exclusive communications which at least partially satisfy the request for respective communication opportunities of the first subset, based on at least the plurality of characteristics of each maintained profile for respective members of the first subset and respective members of the second subset, and the valuation of the communications, and defining a set of respective mutually exclusive communications which represents the highest net benefit to the plurality of users as an optimum set of respective communications; and storing in a memory a description of the optimum set of respective communications.