Abstract:
A social networking or dating platform and method that systematically documents and stores evaluations by participants of their networking or dating experiences. Each evaluation is then sent, by, for example, email and or SMS, to the other participant in the date. Advantageously, the system processes each evaluation to determine a date rating and prompts the participants to take further action based on that rating. The social networking or dating system further comprises a widget interface.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    A review of existing Internet dating sites reveals a need for a site that provides an easy to use, automated date feedback mechanism by which each date participant can evaluate the other participant. Such evaluations would be useful not only to the participants themselves, but to other people who might be interested in dating one of the participants. 
         [0002]    The present invention addresses this need by providing such an automated date feedback mechanism. Briefly, a date participant evaluates the other participant by completing an automated, on-line questionnaire. The Internet dating system in accordance with the present invention processes the questionnaire and determines a date rating and sends the rating to the other participant to the date by, for example, email or short message service (SMS). The evaluations and ratings may also be stored in a database for later review by the participants and/or other interested people. Advantageously, the system may also prompt the participants to take further action based on that rating. For example, if a participant rates a date positively, the system may prompt the participant to send a gift, such as flowers or candy, to the other participant, send a message to the other participant, or provide suggestions to that participant for another date. A participant receiving a positive rating may be likewise prompted by the system. 
         [0003]    In another aspect of the present invention, the system enables a participant to authorize other members of the Internet website system to view his or her date evaluation. In that way, other members may consider that evaluation in deciding whether to arrange a date with the reviewed participant. 
         [0004]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the system may be linked to an established Internet dating website to provide that website with the features described herein. Alternatively, the system may be linked to blogs (weblogs) or social networking sites such as MySpace, Xanga, TagWorld, Friendster, and LinkedIn. 
         [0005]    In still a further aspect of the present invention, the system may be accessed, and evaluations provided and received, via a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. In that way, participants can conveniently provide and receive evaluations of the date while the date is still fresh in their minds. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a widget is provided as a user-interface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Additional objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a process in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4-18  illustrate web pages that may be displayed on a user&#39;s computer during the course of the process illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 19  is a block diagram illustrating a process in accordance with the present invention in which a mobile device, such as a cell phone, is used to access the Internet dating system; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 20-30  illustrate pages that may be displayed on a user&#39;s mobile device during the course of the process illustrated in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 31-36  illustrate pages that may be displayed on a user&#39;s mobile device during the course of sending a pre-written message provided by a system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 37  is a flowchart illustrating the process of unlocking a widget; 
           [0016]      FIG. 38  shows a widget in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 39  illustrates a site map for the front-end of an illustrative embodiment of a widget-based user interface in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 40-47  provide illustrative flowcharts of the front-end features provided by an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 48  illustrates a site map for the back-end administrative features provided in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 49  is a web page through which the back-end administrative features may be provided; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 50-56  provide flowcharts of the back-end administrative features provided by an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 57-91  depict screen shots of a widget-based user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like items. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in which one or more user computers  100 , such as personal computers, laptop computers, etc., or mobile devices  105 , such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, etc., are capable of communicating with Internet dating system  120 , via a network  115 , such as the Internet. In the case of mobile devices  105 , communication with Internet dating system  120  may also utilize a mobile network  110  that is capable of communicating information over network  115 . Internet dating system  120  includes servers and other computers and processors, as well as storage devices, and all other hardware and software necessary for hosting an Internet website, as is known in the art. The Internet dating system  120  further includes a database system for storing information about users of the system, including account information and the evaluations and ratings described below. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, one or more user computers  100 , such as personal computers, laptop computers, etc., or mobile devices  105 , such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, etc., are capable of communicating with one or more Internet dating sites  225 , via a network  115 , such as the Internet, and, in the case of mobile devices  105 , mobile network  110 . The one or more Internet dating sites  225  are, in turn, linked to dating evaluation system  230 . Again, Internet dating sites  225  and dating evaluation system  230  include servers and other computers and processors, as well as storage devices, and all other hardware and software necessary for hosting an Internet website and/or communicating with a hosted website, as is known in the art. 
         [0026]    In another alternative system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, rather than Internet dating sites  225 , dating evaluation system  230  is linked to blogs (weblogs) or social networking sites, e.g. MySpace, Xanga, TagWorld, Friendster, and LinkedIn, to provide those blogs and sites with the features described herein. 
         [0027]    Dating evaluation system  230  further includes a database system for storing information about users of the system, including account information and the evaluations and ratings described below. In this embodiment, dating evaluation system  230  can act as a central repository for evaluation information that may be shared by some or all of the Internet dating sites  225 . In this way, a user that is a member of more than one Internet dating site  225  can have his or her dating information aggregated. 
         [0028]    In operation, the features and information provided by dating evaluation system  230  may be incorporated into the web pages served by the one or more Internet dating sites  225 , for example, in a separate frame in the web pages served by those sites. Alternatively, the features and information provided by dating evaluation system  230  may be provided in a separate browser window. In either case, a link and/or button may be provided by Internet dating sites  225  that enable the user to access the features provided by dating evaluation system  230 . 
         [0029]    In both the  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  embodiments, the database stores a history of all date reviews received by each user. The system in turn performs analysis of that information. For example, the database may track the number of dates a user went on, the number of positive and negative responses that were received, and the number of times a user received the same response to the same question. Advantageously, the system may then use that information to provide suggestions to that user for improving his or her dating habits. For example, if a number of reviewers have indicated that the user does not look like the picture that he or she posted on the dating site, the system may send a message to the user, suggesting that he or she change the picture. Similarly, for example, if a number of reviewers have indicated that the user&#39;s personality does not match his or her profile, the system may advise the user to change the profile. The system may also use the analyzed information to refer the user to dating materials that specifically address the user&#39;s dating deficiencies. The analyzed information may optionally be presented to the user in tabular or graphical form. In addition, the review information may be used to verify that a user in fact who she or he claims to be. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a process, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, for providing and utilizing an automated evaluation and rating system in an Internet dating site. The process can be performed by a stand-alone Internet dating system, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a combined system comprising one or more Internet dating sites and a dating evaluation system, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In step  300 , a user connects to the system by, for example, entering the URL for the system&#39;s website, or the URL for one of the one or more Internet dating sites shown in  FIG. 2 , into an Internet browser or selecting a hyperlink, button, or bookmark for the site. In step  305 , the site then may optionally provide an introductory screen, such as the one shown in  FIG. 4 , which is in turn displayed on the screen of the user&#39;s computer. In step  310 , the site then provides a log-on page, such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 . In step  315 , the log-on page may optionally include a link to a site tour and/or other information about the site that would be useful to a new user. An exemplary site tour for the site is shown in  FIGS. 6-10 . An example of additional information that may be provided to new users is shown in  FIG. 11 . In step  317 , a new user may sign-up to become a member of the site, in which case the site will provide a sign-up form for the user to complete. An example of a sign-up form is shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0031]    In step  320 , the user logs on to the Internet dating site, and, in step  325 , the user&#39;s personal page is displayed. Illustrative personal pages are shown in  FIGS. 13 and 17 .  FIG. 18  illustrates the display of the user&#39;s mailbox, which can be reached through the user&#39;s personal page by selecting the My Mailbox button. In step  330 , if the user indicates that he or she would like to review a date, the site will provide an interactive date questionnaire for the user to complete. The user can make that indication by, for example, clicking on the Review a Date button shown in  FIG. 13 . An exemplary date questionnaire is shown in  FIGS. 14A-14C . 
         [0032]    After the user completes the questionnaire, the site, in step  335 , processes the questionnaire and assigns a positive or negative rating to the date. The questionnaire is preferably designed to obtain personality profile and identity verification information. 
         [0033]    In step  340 , the site emails the date rating to the other participant. The email may contain prompts or links that enable further actions for the other participant to take based on the rating. For example, as shown in  FIG. 15 , if the rating is positive, the email may contain prompts or links for sending the reviewer (i.e., the user who filled out the questionnaire) a gift, such as flowers, sending the reviewer a friendly message, or for gathering suggestions for a next date. As shown in  FIG. 16 , if the rating is negative, the email may contain a prompt or link for the other participant to “fix your drama,” which will direct the other participant to information that may improve his or her dating skills. 
         [0034]    In step  345 , the other participant receives and reviews the email containing the date rating. The other participant may then select one of the suggestions for further actions by, for example, clicking on or otherwise selecting one of the prompts or links in the email. By making a selection, the participant may, for example, be directed to a webpage at which flowers may be purchased, provided with a screen for sending a friendly message to the reviewer, provided with suggestions for a next date, or, if the review was negative, provided with helpful dating hints or directed to a dating website to continue the search for a compatible date. 
         [0035]      FIG. 19  illustrates a process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in which a mobile device, such as a cell phone, is used to access the Internet dating system. In step  1900 , a user connects to the Internet via a mobile device. In step  1905 , the user scrolls down and selects Chat &amp; Date, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , which in turn causes links to one or more dating sites to be displayed. In step  1910 , the user selects a dating site that provides a date rating service in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . In step  1915 , the site provides optional preliminary information, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 . In step  1920 , the user is provided a log-on page. If the user is not yet a member, he or she will, in step  1925 , be prompted to sign up and then continue. In step  1930 , the user logs on to the Internet dating site, as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
         [0036]    In step  1935 , the user&#39;s personal page is displayed and the user may select to complete a date rating. If a user selects to complete a date rating, then, in step  1940 , the site provides an interactive date questionnaire, a page of which is illustrated in  FIG. 24 , which the user in turn completes. In step  1945 , the site processes the questionnaire and assigns a positive or negative rating to it. The site then, in step  1950 , prompts the user to take the next step in the dating process. If the rating is positive, the site may prompt the user to, for example, send a gift, such as flowers, or an SMS Message to the other participant in the date, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 . If the rating is negative, the site may prompt the user to, for example, go to an Internet dating site to continue his or her search for a compatible date, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0037]    In step  1955 , the site sends the date rating by, for example, Short Message Service (SMS) and/or email, to the other participant to the date, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . In step  1960 , the other participant is alerted on his or her mobile device that a rating has been received, as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . In step  1965 , the other participant logs on to the site, as described previously. 
         [0038]    In step  1970 , the other participant is prompted to respond to the rating, including an option to rate the user back. If the received rating is positive, the site may prompt the user to send a gift, such as flowers or chocolates, send a message back to the user, provide suggestions for a next date, such as a link to information about current movies, etc., as illustrated in  FIG. 29 . If the received rating is negative, the site may prompt the user to, for example, go to an Internet dating site to continue his or her search for a compatible date, as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
         [0039]    A system in accordance may also provide appropriate pre-written messages to be sent from one date participant to another. As illustrated in  FIG. 31 , a mail icon can be selected, which in turn displays mail and message related options, as illustrated in  FIG. 32 . If the date rating MMS menu option is selected (i.e., RatesyourDate MMS in  FIG. 32 ), a number of pre-written messages is displayed, as illustrated in  FIG. 33 , for selection by the user. The user may also select an animation that will accompany the message, as illustrated in  FIG. 34 . The user can then either enter the phone number of the other participant or select it from the user&#39;s address book, as illustrated in  FIG. 35 . Lastly the user can add a priority to the message, as illustrated in  FIG. 36 . 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, a widget is provided as an interface means to a member of an Internet dating service.  FIG. 37  illustrates the process of unlocking a widget. In step  3700 , a locked widget is placed on a member&#39;s home page. A member&#39;s home page is a web page in which a member&#39;s profile can be accessed by the user and/or others, and may be hosted, for example, by an Internet dating site  225 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 . In step  3710 , once the member clicks on the widget he or she is taken, for example, through a flash presentation of how an Internet dating system in accordance with the present invention works, as shown in  FIGS. 58-63 . The member is then asked to sign-up for the service, as shown in  FIGS. 64-69 . A member can then choose to be a free or premium member of the service, as shown in  FIG. 68 , or to opt out of the selection process, as shown in  FIG. 67 . 
         [0041]    If the member chooses premium membership in step  3715 , the member will complete a sign-up page and provide payment information, as shown in  FIG. 69 . As a premium member, the member will, in an exemplary embodiment, have full access to all services provide to members of the Internet dating system in accordance with the present invention, and will be provided with premium information regarding both other premium members and free members. 
         [0042]    In step  3720 , the widget is unlocked and the member is granted access to premium member services. 
         [0043]    If the member chooses free membership in step  3725 , the member will complete a sign-up page, but not provide payment information. As a free member, the member will, in an exemplary embodiment, have use of all free aspects of an unlocked widget for any other member, both premium and free. The widget for a free member may appear the same as a widget for a premium member, other than, e.g., a modified logo, but when the member tries to use a premium service, the premium service sign-up page appears. 
         [0044]    In step  3730 , the widget is unlocked and the member is granted access to free member services. A free member can only see free information on other users, regardless of whether the other user is premium or not. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, both free and premium members can complete a review, notify a date, invite friends, receive newsletters, and receive dating advice based on reviews done of him or her. A premium member can also review and reply to ratings done of him or her, view his or her dating statistics and the dating statistics of other members, including both premium and free members, and save searches and ratings. 
         [0046]    If the member chooses to opt out in step  3735 , the widget remains locked. In that case, in step  3640 , the widget remains on the member&#39;s profile/home page, but if the member tries to use it, the flash presentation and sign-up information is repeated. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 38 , a widget  3800  may have a number of selectable icons, buttons, links, or other selection mechanism within in it, such as My mailbox icon  3802 , Do a review/rate icon  3804 , My statistics icon  3806 , Search icon  3808 , Invite my friends icon  3812  and mobile phone icon  3814 . Other icons may also be included in the widget, such as, for example, a Newsletter icon. 
         [0048]      FIG. 39  illustrates a site map for the front-end of an embodiment of widget  3800 . When a new user accesses the widget, the user is shown a flash presentation, a sign up page, and, if the user so chooses, a membership page and a payment page, as further illustrated in  FIG. 40 . In the course of the sign up procedure, the user may opt to become a free member, a premium member, or opt out. If a member accesses the widget, a log in procedure is followed, as shown in  FIG. 39 . Premium or free members may then select one of the icons or links—for example, statistics (“stats”), mailbox (“mail”), review/rate (“rate”), search, invite my friends (“tell a friend”) or mobile phone (“mobile”). The member may also select “Info (flip over)” to display additional information or choices. 
         [0049]      FIG. 41  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the My statistics icon  3806  is selected. As illustrated, in one embodiment, the provision of statistical information is a premium feature. Statistical information regarding both the member&#39;s reviews and reviews of the member are provided. Selection of the IM icon provides statistical information regarding IM conversations; selection of the e-mail icon provides statistical information regarding e-mail conversations; selection of the phone icon provides statistical information regarding phone conversations; and selection of the in-person icon provides statistical information regarding in-person date conversations. The statistical information may include, for example, the number of conversations of a particular type that the member has been rated or has rated others and the scores received or given. The information may be provided in the form of graphs such as bar graphs. Clicking on a portion of a graph, such as a bar in a bar graph, may provide additional information about the data underlying that portion of the graph.  FIGS. 70-75  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0050]      FIG. 42  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the My mailbox icon  3802  is selected. The member is then able to access his or her mailbox and read and respond to ratings done of the member. In one embodiment, members may receive ratings (i.e., questionnaire results) and newsletters in their mailboxes. Once a member has read a review, he or she may choose to make the comment box in the review public or private. If the member does not agree with a review, he or she may, in one embodiment, identify another person who can provide a recommendation for the member and verify that the review was inaccurate.  FIGS. 76-78  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0051]      FIG. 43  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Do a review/rate icon  3804  is selected. Once selected by a member, the IM icon  3816 , e-mail icon  3818 , phone icon  3820 , and in-person icon  3822  are displayed. If the IM icon  3816  is selected, the member is prompted to review an IM conversation. If e-mail icon  3818  is selected, the member is prompted to review an e-mail conversation. If phone icon  3820  is selected, the member is prompted to review a phone conversation. If in-person icon  3820  is selected, the member is prompted to review an in-person date.  FIGS. 79-84  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0052]      FIG. 44  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Search icon  3808  is selected. Once selected, the member is prompted with search fields that enable the member to search for information about other members, such as ratings or other information, as depicted in  FIG. 44 . In one embodiment, different search capabilities may be provided to free and premium members.  FIGS. 85-86  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0053]      FIG. 45  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if Invite my friends icon  3812  is selected. This feature enables members to tell friends, within or without the site, about the site in a viral fashion, in turn bringing new members to the site.  FIGS. 87-88  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0054]      FIG. 46  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the mobile phone icon  3814  is selected.  FIG. 89  shows a screen shot indicating the number of SMS messages left. 
         [0055]      FIG. 47  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Info (flip over) is selected.  FIGS. 90-91  show various illustrative screen shots of this feature. 
         [0056]      FIG. 48  illustrates a site map for providing back-end administrative features to a social networking or Internet dating system and/or the dating evaluation system, and  FIG. 49  ilustrates a web page through which those feature may be provided. Those features may include Reports  4802  selected by Reports link  4902 ; Member Services  4804  selected by Member Service link  4904 ; Account information  4806  selected by Account link  4906 , Email  4808  selected by Mail link  4908 , and Business Development  4810  selected by Business Development link  4910 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 50  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Reports link  4902  is selected. 
         [0058]      FIG. 51  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the “3 Step Reports” link in  FIG. 50  is selected. 
         [0059]      FIG. 52  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Member Services link  4904  is selected. The Member Plans feature allows an administrator to select or modify the plan between the provider of the social networking or Internet dating system and the provider of the dating evaluation system. The Question Stats features allows an administrator to, for example, change the question set used in the member questionnaires. The Member Stats feature enables the administrator to view statistics of a member. The Enquiries feature enables the administrator to access information about company enquiries. 
         [0060]      FIG. 53  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Accounts link  4906  is selected. 
         [0061]      FIGS. 54 and 55  provide illustrative flowcharts of the procedure followed if the Mail link  4908  is selected, or if either sublist link “What&#39;s New” or “Feature Content”, shown in  FIG. 48  is selected. 
         [0062]      FIG. 56  provides an illustrative flowchart of the procedure followed if the Business Development link  4910  is selected. 
         [0063]    In one aspect, the present invention also provides for the delivery of targeted advertising to members of a social networking or Internet dating systems. Such advertising can be delivered to members whether they access the system through a computer, a mobile phone or another device. The advertising can be targeted to members based on their dating behavior, such as their dating success or failure, or, for example, their personal preferences as reflected in their dating reviews, both reviews of them and by them, and their profile information. For example, a different type of advertisement may be sent to a member whose reviews indicate that he likes to take his dates to sporting events than to a member whose reviews indicate that he likes to take his dates to quiet restaurants. In addition, a member who has gotten a number of unfavorable reviews may be sent advertisements on date coaching, whereas a member who gets consistently good reviews would not. 
         [0064]      FIGS. 57-91  depict illustrative screen shots of a widget-based user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0065]    The illustrative descriptions of the application of the principles of the present invention are to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed invention. These descriptions are susceptible to numerous modifications and alternative arrangements by those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alternative arrangements are not intended to be outside the scope of the present invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, the present invention should not be limited to the described illustrative embodiments but, instead, is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.