Abstract:
A secure online dating support system and method requires potential members to submit personal information regarding themselves as a predicate to becoming a member of the dating system. This personal information is provided in a manner, either in-person at an information receiving center, or submitted to an information collector, that permits its verification. Preferably, authorization is also provided by the potential member for further investigation, resulting in an investigator conducting an investigation, and communicating the results to the online dating service, so that the information revealed by the investigation can be displayed to members of the online dating service and/or to individuals outside of the dating service who have been given access by the participating member. Optionally, multiple membership levels can be provided, differentiated either or both on the basis of the level of disclosure and the frequency of the updating of information provided to the service.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to online dating support systems and methods and, more particularly, to a secure online dating support system and method in which relevant personal information about participants is obtained, verified and provided to other participants.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The online (or Internet) dating service industry has grown significantly in recent years. ComScore Media Medtrix has provided recent user information for a number of the larger personals/dating web-sites (there are over 200 on-line dating sites), as follows:  
                                                       Number of Unique Users (as of           Web-site   July, 2002)                           Match.com   5,665,000           Yahoo! Personals   4,412,000           Date.com   2,295,000           Matchmaker.com   1,522,000           Someonelikesyou.com   1,237,000           Dreammates.com     983,000                      
 
           [0003]    In addition, a recent Jupiter Research study stated that more than 34 million people have visited online personal ad sites, and that the average user spends 13 hours a month on such sites.  
           [0004]    Despite its growth, the online dating/personals industry continues to be plagued by the problem of users either misrepresenting themselves (e.g., as younger, more attractive (via outdated pictures or through misrepresentation of height/weight), more successful, etc.), or concealing important information (e.g., a criminal record, a drug or alcohol addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, a marriage, etc.). As of Dec. 11, 2002, there have been over 17,900 online dating horror stories, and some have ended tragically.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a support system and method for online dating that provides participants with the security of knowing that participants are representing themselves accurately, and further that potentially harmful information is fully disclosed. The system and method needs to provide a convenient vehicle for persons to submit information and to provide the online dating support service with the needed permission and information to conduct a further background examination. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an online dating support system and method that provides for the voluntary verification of relevant personal information concerning participants.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an online dating support system and method that provides for the conduct of a voluntary background check of participants.  
           [0008]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an online dating support system and method in which verified personal and background information concerning one participant may be disclosed to other participants.  
           [0009]    It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide more than one level of participant verification, with the extent of verification and/or the frequency of re-verification varying from level to level.  
           [0010]    It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide method of personal information verification for dating that provides for the verification of relevant personal information concerning participants.  
           [0011]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an online dating support system is disclosed. The system comprises, in combination: an online dating service; at least one potential member in communication with the online dating service; at least one member in communication with the online dating service; a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with the online dating service; and an investigator in communication with the online dating service.  
           [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of online dating is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing an online dating service; providing at least one potential member of the online dating service; providing at least one member of the online dating service; providing a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with the online dating service; providing an investigator in communication with the online dating service; the at least one potential member visiting the personal information and authorization receiving center; the at least one potential member providing personal information to the information and authorization receiving center; the information and authorization receiving center communicating the personal information to the online dating service; the online dating service accepting the potential member as a member; and the online dating service posting at least some of the personal information concerning the potential member on a web-site.  
           [0014]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention a method of online dating is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing an online dating service; providing at least one potential member of the online dating service; providing at least one member of the online dating service; providing a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with the online dating service; providing an investigator in communication with the online dating service; the at least one potential member visiting the personal information and authorization receiving center; the at least one potential member providing personal information to the information and authorization receiving center, the personal information includes at least one of the following: a photograph of the potential member, wherein the photograph is taken at the information and authorization receiving center, height and weight information concerning the potential member, wherein the height and weight information is obtained at the information and authorization receiving center, birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information; the potential member providing to the information and receiving center written authorization to obtain additional information concerning the potential member; providing an investigator in communication with the online dating service; the investigator investigating the potential member; providing at least two levels of membership for the online dating service, wherein the at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on an amount of the personal information provided; the information and authorization receiving center communicating the personal information to the online dating service; the online dating service accepting the potential member as a member; and the online dating service posting at least some of the personal information concerning the potential member on a web-site, wherein an accessing member&#39;s access to the personal information concerning other of the members is restricted based on the accessing member&#39;s membership level.  
           [0015]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention a method of personal information verification for dating is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a personal information and authorization receiving center; a person providing personal information to the information and authorization receiving center, wherein the personal information further includes at least one of the following: a photograph of the person, wherein the photograph is taken at the information and authorization receiving center, height and weight information concerning the person, wherein the height and weight information is obtained at the information and authorization receiving center, birth certificate, information concerning marital status, income information, sexually transmitted disease information, and property ownership information; the personal information and authorization receiving center verifying the personal information; and the personal information and authorization receiving center providing the person with a certification of the personal information.  
           [0016]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention a method of personal information verification for dating is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing an online dating service, providing at least one potential member of the online dating service, providing at least one member of the online dating service, providing an information collector in communication with the online dating service, the information collector visiting the at least one potential member, the at least one potential member providing personal information to the information collector, the information collector communicating the personal information to the online dating service, the online dating service accepting the potential member as a member, and the online dating service posting at least some of the personal information concerning the potential member on a web-site.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an online dating method and support system having consistent with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the basic components of an embodiment of an online dating support system consistent with the present invention, reflecting the interaction therebetween.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of dating method and support system consistent with the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of an online dating method and support system consistent with the present invention and involving an information collector and a screening service.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an exemplar of a bronze member report.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an exemplar of a silver member report.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an exemplar of a gold member report.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring first to FIG. 2, the basic components of an online dating support system  10  consistent with the present invention is shown. The online dating service  12  includes an Internet-based web-site, where members  14  of the service  12  can access information about other members  14  and about the service  12 . Optionally, authorized non-members of the service are permitted to access information about other members  14 . One way in which this could be accomplished could be through the use of access codes. A member  14  could give a non-member (or a member) an access code that allows the non-member (or member) to access a pre-determined amount of personal information about the member  14 . Optionally, each member  14  could be given more than one access code, with each access code allowing a non-member (or member) to access a different amount of personal information about the member  14 . Also optionally, from that web-site, through a hyperlink or the like, members  14  can communicate with other members  14 .  
         [0025]    The service  12  will also comprise an operations component, which is concerned with the intake of new members, the obtaining of personal information concerning potential and existing members, the obtaining of authorization from potential and existing members for background checks, and, generally, the overall operation of the system  10 . The service  12  will interface, electronically and/or otherwise, with each of the other system  10  components. These include, specifically, potential members and members  14  of the service  12 , a personal information and authorization receiving center(s)  16 , and an investigator(s)  18 .  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the operation of the method of the present invention and the functions performed by the various system components will be illustrated by a description of its operation. Initially, a potential member contacts the service  12 . Preferably, that contact is made by accessing the service  12 &#39;s web-site, though contact may be made in other forms as well. It should further be noted that contact may be made, initially, by a potential member contacting another dating service web-site, which web-site could provide a hyperlink to the service  12 &#39;s web-site. Still further, initial contact may be made at a physical location, such as copy center, a health club or the like. Yet further, initial contact may be made by an information collector who visits a potential member at an agreed upon location (this embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4).  
         [0027]    The potential member will then provide the service  12  with some initial personal information. This should include, at a minimum, the potential member&#39;s name. It may, optionally, include additional information, such as an address, date of birth, telephone number, etc. Following receipt of the initial personal information, the service  12  preferably will provide the potential member with an alphanumeric code.  
         [0028]    At least at this point, the verification process begins. In one embodiment, the potential member will travel to a personal information and authorization receiving center  16 . This may be an office or the like operated by the service  12 , or a copy center or the like that has arranged with the service  12  to perform information and authorization receiving services. In one embodiment the center  16  is a copy center, due to the large number of such establishments and their possession of photographic, scanning, copying and computer equipment of a type that greatly facilitates the information and authorization receiving process, and the communication of that information to the service  12 . It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the method and support system for online dating in which the personal information and authorization receiving center  16  is at a location other than a copy center, such as a health club.  
         [0029]    The potential member will provide the center  16  with the alphanumeric code that the potential member received from the service  12 . The center  16  will then obtain personal information from the potential member. Such information can include any of the following: a fingerprint, a driver&#39;s license, the potential member&#39;s height and weight, digital photographs (preferably a head shot and a full body shot), digital video clip, a year to date pay stub, a birth certificate (or other proof of citizenship/lawful residence, such as a visa or green card), college diploma(s), reference letters, mortgage statement, income tax form 1040&#39;s for prior year, credit report, resume and/or other employment information, divorce decree, professional association information, and an e-mail address. In the event that multiple membership levels are provided, the extent of personal information obtained may be a function of the level of membership selected by the potential member, with the higher membership levels requiring greater disclosure of personal information.  
         [0030]    The documentary information is preferably scanned by the center  16 , so that it may be provided electronically to the service  12 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from the potential member transmitting the documentary information by fax, electronically, regular mail, or by some other means directly to the service  12  or to a screening service. The potential member&#39;s height and weight should be obtained using standard measuring equipment, and recorded by the center  16  for transmission to the service  12 . The fingerprint should be obtained in the ordinary manner and scanned, again for electronic transmission to the service  12 .  
         [0031]    In addition to the obtaining of personal information from the potential member, the center  16  will also accept signed authorizations from the potential member for further investigation. Again, the number and type of authorizations obtained may be a function of membership level, if multiple levels are provided. Authorizations could include forms permitting access to Department of Motor Vehicle records, medical records, criminal records, to conduct screening of blood and urine samples, and the like. Additionally, the center  16  could obtain from the member  16  urine and blood samples, for purposes of conducting tests for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or sexually transmitted diseases. (Alternately, a potential member could be referred to a medical practitioner or the like for purposes of providing such samples.)  
         [0032]    Information and authorization obtained from the potential member should be communicated to the service  12 . To the extent needed for purposes of conducting further investigation of the potential member, the service  12  will communicate information/authorization to an investigator(s)  18  or a screening service (as shown in the flow chart in FIG. 5). The investigator  18  can inquire into a potential member&#39;s marital status, criminal background, employment record, educational background, professional licenses, court records, driving record, credit record, and other information potentially relevant to a potential member&#39;s suitability as a dating or marriage partner.  
         [0033]    It is preferred that the investigator(s)  18  be one or more vendors that operate independently of the service  12  and pursuant to an agreement therewith, though it is possible that some or all of these investigation services could be performed internally by the service  12  or by a screening service. If the investigator(s)  18  is independent of the service  12 , it will communicate the information that it obtains regarding a potential member to the service  12 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the method for online dating is shown. The method of online dating shown in FIG. 4 is essentially the same as before, except that in place of an authorization and receiving center, an information collector visits the potential member. Preferably, the information collector will photograph and measure the potential member (preferably height and weight). The information collector may also gather other basic information, such as the person&#39;s name and address. The information collector preferably will also collect signed authorizations from the potential member for further investigation. In addition, the information collector preferably will also collect any documentary information in order to transfer this documentary information to a screening service for verification purposes. Optionally, the information collector may take a blood and/or urine sample. Once the information collector has completed collecting information, the information is then communicated either directly to the service  12  or to a screening service for verification. The screening service would then communicate its findings to the service  12 .  
         [0035]    When the information gathering process is completed, the service  12  may then communicate to the potential member whether or not he or she has been accepted as a certified member (as opposed to a potential member at the beginning of the process). At one or more of the foregoing steps, payment can be required of the potential member, in the form of an application fee, processing fee, provisional membership fee, monthly membership fees, membership fee, or the like. Preferably, the potential member pays at the beginning of the process, but holds only provisional member status until verification of personal information is achieved. Upon acceptance as a member, it may also be desired to require payment of a periodic subscription fee, such as a monthly fee, for participation in the service  12 .  
         [0036]    Once a potential member&#39;s membership in the service  12  is finalized, the service  12  should take the necessary steps to make the new member&#39;s personal and background information available to other members of the service  12 . Referring to FIGS.  5 - 7 , this represents one form in which the member information may be displayed, with more information being displayed depending on the level of membership (e.g., bronze, silver and gold).  
         [0037]    Preferably, members of the service  12  are required to update their personal and background information on a periodic basis, for example, once a year.  
         [0038]    With respect to the possible feature of membership levels, these can be differentiated on one or more bases. Higher (and presumably more expensive) levels can require greater disclose of personal and background information. Alternatively, or in addition, higher levels can require more frequent updating of personal and background information.  
         [0039]    By way of example, it may be desired to provide three levels of membership—bronze, silver, and gold—with bronze being the most basic and gold being the highest. A bronze membership may only require confirmation of identity, height and weight, a current photograph(s), and marital status. A silver membership could additionally require home ownership confirmation, provision of a birth certificate, income verification, and a credit report. A gold membership could require the silver and gold information and, in addition, driving and criminal records, substance abuse testing, professional license and association information, etc. (It should be noted that where membership levels are provided, there may be as few as two or more than three.)  
         [0040]    Where different levels are provided, it may be desired to limit a member&#39;s access to other members at or below his or her level. For example, a gold member could access gold, silver or bronze members, while a silver member could only access silver or bronze members. Alternatively, a one-time fee could be charged for accessing members at higher levels. Alternatively, each member could access at least bronze level personal information from any other member, but additional personal information will only be available to those of an equal or greater level of membership.  
         [0041]    The service  12  will preferably perform other functions, in addition to those described above. For example, it can facilitate the filing by e-mail or otherwise complaints by one member against another. It can, relatedly, create records of such complaints, so that they may be reviewed by members. The service  12  can facilitate a member&#39;s response to complaints against him or her, and possibly the resolution of complaints.  
         [0042]    Additionally, the service  12  may offer psychological and/or personality testing of members/potential members. Such test(s) could be administered at the center  16 , or online via the service&#39;s web-site or the web-site of an independent test administering entity.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, personal information verification for dating is provided for users in an offline forum. Initially, a user would provide personal information to a personal information and authorization receiving center (or potentially to an information collector as discussed in other embodiments above). Once all information is fully screened and verified, the information and authorization center (or the information collector) will provide the user/member with a certification of the personal information. This certification could come in the form of a personal card that could be used in much the same way as a business card, whereby one could present such a personal card to a prospective date in person or when meeting for the first time face-to-face.  
         [0044]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.