Abstract:
The matching system incorporates a method enabling a presenter, such as a company seeking funding, to prepare a profile template. The profile template provides information parameters useful for a searcher, such as a venture capitalist, to make an initial partnering decision. The presenter may indicate a level of privacy for each information parameter in the profile, which is useful in limiting the dissemination of information. In identifying potential matches, the matching system uses all available information parameters, irrespective of any privacy limitation. When a match is confirmed by the matching system, notifications are restricted from transmitting information parameters having a privacy level indicating the presenter did not desire to disseminate that information.

Description:
FIELD  
         [0001]    The field of the present invention is electronic data processing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic processing system for identifying and matching business partners.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In the world of business, it is often necessary to exert considerable time and energy in pairing service providers with those needing such business services. For example, a company desiring funding may need to conduct a substantial search to find a person or company willing to fund them. Conducting such a search is not only time-consuming, but is often futile as the networking base of most individuals is quite limited. Due to the limited knowledge of any one person, brokers, such as financial brokers, have typically facilitated pairing those needing services with business service providers. These financial brokers are professionals in the field and maintain a larger inventory of service providers. However, even the most knowledgeable financial broker is still limited in the number of contacts they maintain in their networking model.  
           [0003]    In the traditional networking model, a broker who had investment clients might learn of investment opportunities and pass the opportunities along to those clients. The scope and breadth of this informal networking system is limited by the number of clients and investment opportunities that a particular broker can competently handle.  
           [0004]    Since individual financial brokers are limited, financial brokerage firms have evolved that have larger networking bases and contacts. Unfortunately, the large financial brokerage firms typically extract a substantial fee for their services. Typically, these large financial brokerage firms will even require that a company seeking funding assign a portion of that company&#39;s outstanding stock to the brokerage firm upon successful funding. Accordingly, use of the large financial brokerage firms is out of reach for the vast majority of companies seeking services and those providing such services.  
           [0005]    Although working with brokers and brokerage firms has limitations, working with these brokers and brokerage firms offers an advantage of allowing the broker or brokerage firm to act as an intermediary. As an intermediary, brokers or brokerage firms can suggest potential matches between those needing services and service providers while maintaining confidentiality of private information. For example, a broker may present the pedigree of the owners of a new company and that company&#39;s financial health without disclosing information that would allow the service provider to identify the company. In such a manner, a company desperately seeking funding to avoid bankruptcy would not risk dissemination of such private information. Thus, a broker or brokerage firm may identify potential matches in an anonymous manner, although such identification may be limited or expensive.  
           [0006]    As described above, the excessive cost excludes many service providers and those needing services from using the services of large financial brokerage firms, and a typical private broker has only a limited range of matchmaking potential. Therefore, online matching services have been developed. These online services enabled those seeking services to present their information on a web site or bulletin board system, for example. In a similar manner, those offering services may also present their information on the web site or bulletin board system. Parties then perform queries into the stored information to identify potential matches. After reviewing the stored information regarding identified matches, the searcher may then proceed to contact the presenter directly.  
           [0007]    The online matching services provide for substantial ease-of-use and offer the ability to maintain a significant database of service providers and those needing services. However, such online matching services fail to provide the necessary anonymity as previously provided by the personal broker. Such discrete intermediaries could match parties without revealing unnecessary information. Automated connection services to date have suffered from the lack of such an intermediary, which causes participants to limit the details about their companies or services. For example, it is unlikely that a venture capitalist will indicate interest in a company unless that company discloses enough information to convince the venture capitalist that the company is operating pursuant a viable business plan. Unfortunately, the company is unlikely to disclose such sensitive and detailed information knowing that the information may be fairly widely disseminated. Thereby, the company fails to disclose enough information to fairly disclose to the venture capitalist its real financial potential. Accordingly, a potentially successful match is missed due to the company&#39;s fear of disclosing private information.  
           [0008]    In a similar fashion, service providers also may fail to disclose pertinent information. For example, past successes are a strong indicator of future potential. Therefore service providers would benefit from disclosing past pairings where the service provider obtained a desired outcome for its client. However, due to confidentiality concerns, it is unlikely that a service provider will disclose its past successes on an online matching service. Indeed, making such disclosure could even place the service provider at risk of legal action from its past clients.  
           [0009]    Another problem with current online matching systems is that the current systems provide only a limited and rather unsophisticated search capability. For example, a typical online matching system provides a simple Boolean query search. Such a search provides an unsatisfactory result when, for example, one of the queried factors has not been completed by the data presenter. In such a manner, the online matching system typically chooses one of two unsatisfactory options in dealing with the missing data. First, traditional system may assume that any missing factor is a positive match and thereby return an inordinately large number of results. Second, the traditional system may assume that the missing factor would not match, and thereby return an artificially small number of results. Either way, the searcher is not receiving and accurate indication all of potential matches.  
           [0010]    It has been estimated that there are in excess of two million private investors seeking investment opportunities in early-stage companies. These investors, often referred to as “angel” investors, typically demand a high degree of confidentiality in selecting investment opportunities. These angels are unlikely to participate fully in any on-line system or other matching system that may prematurely disclose their identity. Accordingly, these angel investors are unlikely to use current on-line matching systems, and instead will rely primarily on their informal networks or a trusted intermediary, such as a financial broker.  
           [0011]    Therefore, there exists a need for a matching system that provides an efficient and cost-effective pairing of service providers with those needing business services. Importantly, there is a need that such a matching system provide for privacy and anonymity to accommodate the sensitivities of participants. Further, there is a need for a sophisticated matching system that accurately pairs the needs of one party to the proven offerings of another party.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automated system for matching business partners. It is another object of the present invention to enable efficient sharing of information between prospective partners, but to maintain a desirable level of anonymity during the matching process.  
           [0013]    To overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, and meet the stated objectives, an automated matching system is disclosed. Briefly, the matching system enables a presenter, such as a company seeking funding, to prepare a profile template. The profile template provides information parameters useful for a searcher, such as a venture capitalist, to make an initial partnering decision. The presenter may also indicate a level of privacy for each information parameter in the profile, which is useful in limiting the dissemination of information. In identifying potential matches, the matching system uses all available information parameters, irrespective of any privacy limitation. When the matching system identifies a potential match, the parties are notified, but the notifications are restricted from transmitting any private information. Accordingly, the matching system emulates an intermediary by using all information to identify a match, but maintaining the confidentiality of private information.  
           [0014]    In a particular embodiment of the matching system, the matching system maintains a historical database of past successful matches, and also maintains a file of current presenters and current searchers. Accordingly, the matching system is able to predict which current presenters and searchers are likely to be successfully matched based on the characteristics and parameters of past successful partnerships. More specifically, the matching system selects a target presenter and using historical data identifies a set of searchers that are potential matches for that presenter. Preferably, the target presenter has indicated a desired outcome, such as receiving funding. The matching system finds a set of past presenters in the historical database that are generally similar to the target presenter, and further reduces the set by selecting only those past presenters that successfully achieved the same desired outcome. Since each successful past presenter had a corresponding past searcher, the matching system efficiently generates a set of past searchers that successfully achieved the desired outcome with presenters similar to the target presenter.  
           [0015]    If any of the past searchers in the set are also current searchers, they may be notified, without disclosing the presenter&#39;s private information, that a match potential has been identified. However, the matching system may also be -configured to expand the number of potential matches. For example, the matching system may use the characteristics of the set of past searchers to find a set of current searchers having similar parameters. Accordingly, the matching system identifies a set of current searchers that have similar parameters to the successful past searchers. By incorporating past success in the selection process, the example searching method is likely to return high quality potential matches.  
           [0016]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the matching system provides for a real-time match between presenters and searchers. In one such example, a searcher makes a real-time query into a current database of presenters, with each presenter having an information profile that includes at least one private data parameter. More specifically, the searcher makes a query of information parameters, some of which may be marked as private by the presenter. To facilitate an efficient, yet anonymous exchange of information, the matching system allows a presenter to set a minimum number of the queried parameters that must be private, thereby increasing the anonymity of the transaction. However, to satisfy the searcher that presenters found by the query are acceptable, the searcher is able to set a maximum number of private parameters that are allowed not to match. In this regard, the searcher increases the reliability of the search.  
           [0017]    Advantageously, the matching system enables efficient and effective matching of business partners using an automated system. Since the matching system makes matching recommendations based on a broad base of information, the matching system is likely to provide a high quality pairing. Importantly, even though the matching system is making matching decision on the broad base of information, the matching system only provides others information previously approved for dissemination. Accordingly, the matching system acts as an intermediary by facilitating efficient matching while maintaining desirable anonymity.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a matching system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a sample input form for a matching system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a historical matching system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another historical matching system in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a real-time matching system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a matching system  10  in accordance with the present intention is shown. Matching system  10  is an online network that matches pre-IPO or other early-stage companies with investors and service providers. In a specific application, the matching system  10  acts as an automated request-for-proposal system. In such a manner, the matching system  10  identifies potential matches between service users and service providers, and facilitates their further detailed communications and proposal evaluation.  
         [0024]    Matching system  10  uses a sophisticated comparison engine  16  to facilitate matches to connect companies needing services and service providers so that they can promote, negotiate, share, and transact with one another. By efficiently facilitating such pairings, the matching system  10  creates an online environment in which these entities can achieve better capital and time investments than with traditional off-line or known online networking communities.  
         [0025]    Preferably, matching system  10  is arranged as an Internet enabled application. Accordingly, remote parties may conveniently use matching system  10 . It will be appreciated that certain aspects of the matching system  10  may be resident on a server, while other aspects are located on a remote client. It will be further appreciated that the relationship between the client and server may be adjusted for application specific needs. For example, some implementations could benefit from increased local processing of data, while other implementations may be more reliant on the server&#39;s processing power. Also other implementations of the matching circuit  10  are also contemplated, such as bulletin board systems or other such online systems.  
         [0026]    In a particular application of the matching system, clients use a mobile wireless device to communicate with the server. For example, personal data assistants are available with integrated data modem capability. In this regard, the personal data assistant may be enabled to interactively communicate with a server implementing a matching method. In this configuration, the server preferably manages and performs most significant processing and storage functions, as storage capability and processing power is more limited in the wireless device. It will be appreciated that other mobile wireless devices may be used to interact with the matching system.  
         [0027]    A key feature of matching system  10  is the capability to effectively use all available information while maintaining desirable anonymity. By maintaining the privacy of confidential information, parties are encouraged and enabled to make full and honest disclosures, thereby facilitating effective and efficient matching. Generally, the matching system  10  identifies potential matches by using the full amount of information available for presenters and searchers. However, when a potential match is identified, the matching system  10  does not disseminate information that any party identifies as private. Accordingly, the matching system  10  acts as a sophisticated intermediary that is able to make intelligent matching choices, but still maintain desirable confidentiality. Further, even though confidentiality may be maintained, each party has a high degree of confidence in the results produced by the matching system  10 .  
         [0028]    For convenience in discussing the matching system  10 , it is convenient to consider the party entering information into the system to be a “presenter”, and the party interrogating the system to be a “searcher”. Of course, during a transaction any party may alternatively take on the characteristics of the presenter and the searcher. For example, both the presenter and the searcher may enter relevant information into the matching circuit. In one example of the matching circuit  10 , the presenter enters data into the system using a presenter profile template  12 , while the searcher enters data into system using a searcher profile template  14 . The presenter profile template  12  includes private presenter data  21  and public presenter data  23 . In a similar manner, searcher profile template  14  includes private searcher data  25  and public searcher data  27 . As the profile templates for the presenter and the searcher are similar, only the presenter profile template  12  will be discussed in detail.  
         [0029]    Generally, the presenter supplies the presenter profile template  12  with enough information to enable the matching system to effectively locate a likely match. As privacy of the information is assured, the presenter is enabled to make a full and honest disclosure of information. In entering the data, the presenter enters specific information into variables.  
         [0030]    A preferred profile template comprises several variables. For example, a typical template may include  20  or more variables. The presenter selects which of these variables are appropriate to answer, and supplies the necessary information to complete the variable. Each variable may then be assigned a particular privacy level. In a preferred embodiment, each variable may be assigned either a “private” privacy level or a “public” privacy level. For example, selected variables in presenter profile template  12  have been designated as private. Accordingly, this data is identified as private presenter data  21 . Other data variables in the presenter profile template  12  have been designated as public. The public data variables are shown as public presenter data  23 . It will be appreciated that the matching system  10  may incorporate more than  2  levels of privacy to facilitate a more sophisticated control of information flow.  
         [0031]    The presenter completes the presenter profile template  12  by entering specific information into variables. For consistency, the variables are typically predefined to facilitate effective matching. For example, one predefined variable may ask that a presenter define the primary industry for the company. When completing this variable, the presenter may be asked to make a selection from a predefined list. The list could integrate several choices, such as biotech, electronics, Internet, software, medical, and other industry choices. Preferably, the list is configured as a selection box for an online system. It will be appreciated that other input methods may be used, such as check boxes or radio buttons.  
         [0032]    The matching system  10  has a comparison engine  16  for identifying potential matches. More specifically, the comparison engine  16  maintains a current database  32  of active current presenters and active current searchers. Each of the current participants has previously completed a profile template, such as presenter profile template  12 . The comparison engine  16  also includes a set of sophisticated rules  29 . Typically, the rules  29  will be implemented as software algorithms. Depending on the particular matching situation, the comparison engine  16  may apply different rules  29 . Specific rules will be more fully addressed below.  
         [0033]    In one particular example of matching circuit  10 , the comparison engine  16  also includes an optional historical database  31 . The historical database  31  includes records of past successful matches. A match is considered successful when a presenter and a searcher reached the outcome desired by the presenter. Further, the historical database may additionally track previous pairings that did not result in a successful match.  
         [0034]    The rules  29  of comparison engine  16  use all available information on presenters and searchers to identify potential matches. For example, rules  29  use both the private data  21  and public data  23  in presenter profile  12  when attempting to identify a potential match for that presenter. In a similar manner, rules  29  use all available data from a searcher, such as private data  25  and public data  27  in searcher profile template  14 . Additionally the rules  29  have access to full private and public data in the current database  32  and the historical database  31 , if present.  
         [0035]    Once the comparison engine  16  identifies potential match, the match is identified by match presentation  18 . In a preferred embodiment, match presentation  18  is accomplished via an e-mail notification. More specifically, a presenter may be notified that a particular searcher is a potential match, and the searcher may likewise be notified that the presenter appears to be a match. The system may be configured so that only one party, such as the searcher, receives the notification.  
         [0036]    In the notifications, the matching system  10  does not disclose any private data, such as private presenter data  21  or private searcher data  25 . Instead, matching system  10  only discloses information identified as being public. It will be appreciated that more sophisticated control of information may be accomplished by incorporating more than 2 levels of privacy. It will also be appreciated that other methods of notification may be used.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 2, an example profile template input form  50  is shown. In a preferred embodiment, form  52  is similar for both the presenter and the searcher. In use, the presenter uses information variables on form  52  to present information regarding themselves, while the searcher would use similar variables on a similar form to describe qualities and features they are searching for. Accordingly, similar input forms may be used whether searching or presenting on the matching system.  
         [0038]    The input form  52  includes several variables, such as company name  53  and annual revenue  57 . On form  52 , each variable has a label and an area for inserting information. It will be appreciated that any number of variables may be used, however, enough variables should be presented and collected to enable efficient and accurate matching. Generally, the more variables presented and completed, the better the matching accuracy and efficiency.  
         [0039]    Form  50  invites a person completing the form to provide specific information regarding the entity they represent. Some of the input variables, such as company name  53 , may require a free form input format. Other input variables, such as annual revenue  57 , lend themselves to selectable items. For example, the input area for annual revenue  57  may include a pull down box where the person completing the form selects one of several revenue ranges. It will be appreciated that other selectable input methods may be used. Alternatively, data variables such as annual revenue  57  may also be arranged as free form input, but then the rules used by the comparison engine must be constructed to interpret such free form input.  
         [0040]    Form  52  also permits the person completing the form to indicate a privacy level for each data variable. For example, the person completing the form may indicate that the company name  53  shall remain private by selecting private box  55 . In a similar manner, annual revenue  57  could be made private by selecting private box  59 . In a particular illustration, the person filling out form  52  may identify annual revenue  57  as private. Even though identified as private, the rules of the comparison engine will still use annual revenue  57  in locating potential matches. However, once a potential match is identified, the potential match will receive a notification that does not disclose annual revenue  57 . Accordingly, the matching system fully utilizes all information it receives in making efficient matches, but protects from dissemination any information that the discloser regards as private.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a specific method of matching  70  is disclosed. In particular, matching method  70  uses a historical database that includes successful matching pairs to more effectively identify potential matches. It will be appreciated that the historical database may contain other information, such as information regarding unsuccessful previous pairings. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the historical database may contain information received from other public or private sources. In this regard, a newly activated matching system may still incorporate a degree of historical database. Of course, as time progresses, the information contained in the historical database will increase and the system is likely to yield more effective potential matches.  
         [0042]    Block  71  shows that matching method  70  collects and stores profile template information for past presenters and past searchers in the historical database. As described above, such profile information may include information derived from other private or public sources. The information stored regarding the presenters and the searchers will include an indication of whether particular matched pairs were able to reach a desired outcome, such as a funding event. It will be appreciated that other desired outcomes could be tracked, such as the successful incorporation of a new company by a lawyer. Although system  70  contemplates using historical success data, it will be appreciated that information indicating an unsuccessful match may also be useful.  
         [0043]    In block  73 , a current presenter completes a profile template, which includes an indication of the outcome desired by that presenter. It will be appreciated that the profile template may include any number of data variables, and the data variables may be assigned a privacy level with at least some of the data variables identified to be private.  
         [0044]    In block  73 , the profile template of the current presenter is used to identify a set of similar past presenters. More specifically, the method  70  compares the data variables, including private variables, in the current presenter&#39;s profile template to the profile templates of past presenters. The method selects a set of those past presenters having similar data parameters. It will be appreciated that block  75  could be implemented in alternative ways. For example, block  75  could require exact matches between all data variables before selecting a past presenter. Alternatively, a goodness of fit factor could be used, as shown in block  84 , to expand the number of past presenters selected as being similar. For example, block  84  could require that the current presenter and a past presenter have a minimum number of matching data parameters before the past presenter is selected. In such a manner, a past presenter would be identified as similar even though all data parameters may not match exactly. It will be appreciated that other methods may be used to expand the set of similar past presenters returned by the system in block  75 .  
         [0045]    With the set of similar past presenters defined, block  77  uses the historical database to determine which of the presenters in the set obtained the same outcome desired by the current presenter. For example, if the current presenter is attempting to obtain funding, then block  77  would select only those past presenters that successfully obtained funding for their respective searchers. The past presenters that did not obtain the desired result are excluded from the set. It will be appreciated that the determination of successful past presenters in blocks  75  and  77  may be accomplished using a different sequence. For example, the method could first select past presenters that reached the desired outcome, and then select only those past presenters that are similar to the current presenter. It will be appreciated that other procedures may be used to select a set of similar successful past presenters.  
         [0046]    The historical database contains information regarding successful matches, including the identities of the presenter and the searcher. Accordingly, in block  79  the method  70  is able to generate a set of past searchers that correspond to the set of past presenters generated in block  77 . This set of past searchers contains those past searchers that successfully reached the desired outcome with presenters similar to the current presenter.  
         [0047]    It is possible that one or more of the selected past searchers are still active current searchers in the system. If so, in block  82  active searchers may be extracted from the set of past searchers and these searchers notified about the current presenter. In accordance with the method  70 , none of the private information of the current presenter is disclosed to the searchers.  
         [0048]    With an online system, it is likely that current searchers will continually be added or deleted from the system. Accordingly, the set of searchers generated in block  79  will likely contain past searchers that are no longer active in the system, and will not indicate other newer searchers that may be interested in knowing about the current presenter. Therefore, in block  86  the method uses the set of past searchers generated in block  79  to generate a set of current similar searchers.  
         [0049]    More particularly, searchers in the set of current searchers are selected to have a similar profile as to those searchers in the set of past searchers. As with the procedure described above, similar searchers are selected based on matches of data variables, including private variables, in their profile template. A goodness of fit factor, as shown in block  88 , may be used to expand the set of similar searchers. For example, the goodness of fit factor may be set to select searchers where only a set number of factors match.  
         [0050]    In block  89 , public information regarding the current presenter is transmitted to the searchers in the set of similar searchers. As above, the searchers do not receive any information the presenter indicated as private, although the private information was used in the matching process.  
         [0051]    In a particular example of method  70 , the goodness of fit factor of block  84  and the goodness of fit factor of block  88  may be adjustable. In this regard a user of method  70  may adjust the factors in order to obtain the desired quantity and quality of results. For example, a particular search may be more successful by stringently selecting the set of similar presenters while more loosely selecting the set of current searchers. It will be appreciated that the goodness of fit factors may be made adjustable in alternative ways, such as by allowing a searcher to adjust slider bars or selecting a minimum number of factors that must match exactly.  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. 4 another method of matching  90  is disclosed. Matching method  90  provides a process that generates a limited number of high-quality potential matches. Accordingly, matches generated by method  90  may have a high probability of generating a desired outcome. Portions of method  90  are similar to method  70 , previously described, so will not be detailed. For example, in block  92  profiles are stored in a historical database similar to the manner already described. Further, blocks  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99 , and  101  define a set selection process  91  that generates a set of current searchers similar to the process already defined in method  70 . In particular, set selection process  91  operates on a profile template from a current presenter. However, method  90  uses the generated set of current searchers differently than method  70 .  
         [0053]    Method  90  generally applies the set selection process  91  to other current profile templates. For example, set selection process  104  is similar to set selection process  91 , except that set selection process  104  is applied to a current searcher profile. More particularly, blocks  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114  of set selection process  104 , are similar to blocks  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99 , and  101  of set selection process  91 , respectively. Although method  90  shows the set selection process  91  and  104  operating on only two profile templates, it is contemplated that method  90  may perform a similar set selection process on several profile templates. For example, method  90  may even perform a set selection process for every current profile template. It will be appreciated that method  90  may be automatically performed or may be done in response to an instruction, such as a user command.  
         [0054]    The set selection process, such as set selection process  91  or  104 , generates a potential match list for each profile template. More specifically, the potential match list from process  91  identifies potential current searchers for the presenter, while the potential match list from process  104  identifies potential current presenters for the searcher. If the searcher appears in the presenter&#39;s match list, and the presenter appears in the searcher&#39;s match list, then the method has a high degree of confidence that the presenter and the searcher are a good match. Therefore, block  117  attempts to locate the presenter in the subset of current presenters generated in block  114 , and also attempts to locate the searcher in the subset of current searchers generated in block  101 . If both conditions are met, then method  90  proceeds to notify the presenter in block  121  and the searcher in block  119  that a potential match has been identified. In accordance with method  90 , no private information is disseminated, although the private information was used in making the match.  
         [0055]    Referring now to FIG. 5, another method of matching  140  is disclosed. Matching method  140  is preferably a real-time matching system. In this regard, a searcher generates a query into a database of current presenters, with method  140  returning a list of potential matching presenters. As briefly described earlier, a single party may at times take on the characteristics of the presenter and at a different times take on the characteristics of the searcher. For example, a company seeking funding may complete a template as a presenter and have a template stored in the database. At another time, that same company may perform real-time searches into a database of service providers. Accordingly, the terms presenter and searcher are used flexibly.  
         [0056]    Although not required, the real-time system may also benefit from a historical database. Such a historical database could provide the search engine with additional information to form more efficient and effective matching lists. However, for purposes of describing method  140 , the historical database will not be described.  
         [0057]    A real-time matching method, such as method  140 , generally operates by having a searcher make a query into a database. More specifically, the searcher selects particular variables to query, and selects a value or a range of values acceptable for each variable. Matches are identified when there is a high degree of similarity between the variables in the query and the respective variables in a profile template. Depending upon the specific application, differing degrees of similarity may be required. For example, a query may be made that requires only a minimum number of variables to match. In this regard, even if several variables do not match, the profile template may be identified as a potential match. In a particular embodiment of method  140 , a goodness of fit variable may be set for adjusting the requisite similarity to identify a match.  
         [0058]    In a real-time matching system, such as matching system  140 , the needs of a searcher may be in tension with the needs of a presenter. For example, the presenter probably desires to retain a high level of anonymity, which suggests that the search be accomplished with at least some degree of uncertainty. In contrast, the searcher probably desires that the match have as high a degree of certainty as possible. Accordingly, method  140  provides a process that strikes a balance between the uncertainty desired by the presenter and the certainty desired by the searcher.  
         [0059]    In block  142 , a current database of profile templates is provided. The database typically includes information profiles stored by other searchers and presenters, and includes a combination of public and private variables. It will be appreciated that although method  140  uses two levels of privacy, additional levels may be used to more finely controlled dissemination of data parameters.  
         [0060]    As shown in block  144 , the presenter is able to influence the level of uncertainty for a search. More specifically, each presenter sets a variable, identified as “MIN_PRIVATE”, that is stored with their profile template. This value sets the minimum number of variables in a query that the presenter must have identified as private. For example, assume that a particular presenter has set MIN_PRIVATE to a value of 2. Further, assume that a searcher prepares a query into the database using  5  variables, and that the particular presenter has identified only 1 of the 5 queried variables as private. In this example, even if all 5 variables match, method  140  will not identify this presenter as a potential match. In this regard, the presenter has made a decision that they want to retain anonymity by increasing the level of uncertainty of the search. Of course, the presenter may be able to increase the number of matches by reducing the value the set for MIN_PRIVATE. For example, in the example described above, setting MIN_PRIVATE to a value of 1 may have allowed the presenter to be matched with the searcher.  
         [0061]    However, as described earlier, a searcher has an interest in increasing the level of certainty in a search. Accordingly, in block  146 , the searcher is able to set the value for a variable identified as “NO_MATCH”. With this variable, the searcher sets the maximum number of private variables in a search that are allowed not to match. Thereby, even if a substantial number of the variables queried by the searcher are held private by the presenter, the searcher has control over the maximum number of private variables that do not match. By reducing the value of NO_MATCH, the searcher is able to increase the certainty of the search. Of course, if the searcher reduces NO_MATCH too low, then the searcher may exclude desirable potential matches.  
         [0062]    In block  151  the presenter also sets a “LIMIT” variable. The value of LIMIT permits the presenter to set a minimum value for the NO_MATCH value, which is set by the searcher. In this manner the presenter can again influence the level of uncertainty in the search. More specifically, the value of NO_MATCH must be greater than or equal to LIMIT for the presenter&#39;s profile to be considered by the matching method. For example, the presenter may set the value of LIMIT high enough so that the searcher cannot confidently predict which variables did not match.  
         [0063]    The method  140  contemplates that MIN_PRIVATE and LIMIT are set and adjustable by the presenter, and the NO_MATCH is set and adjustable by the searcher. It will be appreciated that not all these variables need to be present on each implementation of a real-time matching system, and that additional such limiting variables may be added. Further, it is understood that one or more of these variables may be set by the matching method, either statically or in response to a rule.  
         [0064]    A searcher forms a query into the database in block  153 . In making the query, the searcher does not know which of the queried variables any particular presenter has made private. As described earlier, the matching method has access to all information, whether or not private. Therefore, as shown in block  155 , the matching method can identify which of the queried variables are public or private for each presenter. For convenience of discussion, the number of private variables will be assumed to have a value of Y. For each presenter, as shown in block  157 , Y must be greater than or equal to the value of MIN_PRIVATE for that presenter to be considered further. Put another way, if Y is less than MIN_PRIVATE for a particular presenter, then the presenter is excluded from further consideration in this query. Since Y and MIN_PRIVATE vary between presenters, a searcher may get very different results using slight variations in a query.  
         [0065]    To assure a minimum level of certainty, in block  162  NO_MATCH is compared to the number of private variables that do not match. In this regard, NO_MATCH sets the maximum number of private variables that cannot match. For example, if NO_MATCH is set to the value 2, then no more than 2 private variables can not match. If 3 private variables do not match, then the query exceeds the level of certainty requested by the searcher, and the particular presenter profile is removed from further consideration in this query.  
         [0066]    It may be possible, however, that the searcher sets NO_MATCH to a very low number, for example, 1. Thereby, no more than 1 private variable is allowed not to match. Such a level of certainty, although desirable for the searcher, may not provide the necessary level of anonymity for the presenter. Therefore in block  164  the value of NO_MATCH must be greater than or equal to the value of LIMIT. For example, assume the presenter sets the value of LIMIT at 2, then the matching method removes the presenter&#39;s profile from further consideration when NO_MATCH is set to only 0 or 1. It will be appreciated that other methods may be used to adjust the uncertainty in the matching process.  
         [0067]    Provided that the searcher and presenter have agreed on a proper level of certainty and anonymity in blocks  157 ,  162 , and  164 , then the method  140  proceeds to block  166 . In block  166  the variables in the searcher&#39;s query are compared to corresponding variables in the presenters&#39; profile templates. If the comparison identifies a sufficient degree of similarity between the query and presenters&#39; profiles, then the searcher is notified of the matches. Of course, block  169  indicates that the searcher only receives information that has not been identified as private by each of the presenters. Although method  140  may set a specific degree of similarity required to satisfy the query, block  168  may be used to provide a goodness of fit factor for adjusting the requisite similarity. Accordingly, the degree of similarity could be adjusted from needing an exact match to expanding identified matches to include those where several factors do not match. It will be appreciated that different goodness of the factors may be used in varying applications.  
         [0068]    While particular preferred and alternative embodiments of the present intention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that many various modifications and extensions of the above described technology may be implemented using the teaching of this invention. All such modifications and extensions are intended to be included within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.