Patent ID: 8195495

Claim:
A method of computing to produce meeting schedules corresponding to a trade show or conference event, the method comprising: receiving into a computer parameters defining a trade show or conference event for a plurality of members, wherein the parameters comprise a date and time of the event, a length of time for member meetings, and one or more default classifications for members participating in the event; receiving into the computer a data set for each of the members, the data set comprising: at least one classification characterizing the member, wherein the at least one classification characterizing the member is either selected from a list of the one or more default classifications or input by the member, personal information comprising a name and other information of the member, at least one classification for meeting other members of the plurality of members, wherein the at least one classification for meeting other members is selected from a list that includes the default classifications and the member-input classifications, a preference score for each selected classification for meeting the other members, and an optional indicator of a desire not to meet at least one of: one other member, other members of a particular classification, and both; and generating by the computer, prior to the date and time of the event and using the classifications and the preference scores, output comprising: an overall meeting schedule comprising a plurality of member meetings for each of the members participating in the event, the overall meeting schedule including each of the plurality of member meetings for each round of member meetings, the overall meeting schedule based on the length of time for member meetings, wherein no two members are scheduled to meet with one another more than once at the event, wherein first members are more likely to be scheduled to meet second members having a classification that received a high preference score from the first member, and wherein no member meetings are scheduled between first members that indicated a desire not to meet second members characterized by said optional indicator, and for each member participating in the event, an individual meeting schedule comprising each member meeting for said participating member, the time and location of said member meetings, and the other members that said participating member will meet.