SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIGITALLY AUGMENTED NETWORKING
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, and software for digitally augmented networking. Some such embodiments include a server that performs various data processing operations related therefor. In some embodiments, the server operates to receive, via a network, data identifying a first user and a location of the first user. The server may then identifying other users within a proximity of the location of the first user and compare a profile of the first user with profiles of the identified other users to identify profile matches between the first user and identified other users. Next the server may generate and send introduction communications to each of the first user and at least one of the matched other users to introduce the first user and the at least one matched other user. Some embodiments further include client applications, web browser-based, and mobile device apps that operate in concert herewith.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving, via a network on a computing device, data identifying a first user and a location of the first user;
identifying other users within proximity of the location of the first user;
comparing a profile of the first user with profiles of the identified other users to identify profile matches between the first user and identified other users;
generating and sending introduction communications to each of the first user and at least one of the matched other users to introduce the first user and the at least one matched other user.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an event the first user is attending; and
wherein identifying other users within proximity of the location of the first user consists essentially of limiting a universe of the other users within proximity of the location of the first user to other users attending the same event as the first user.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and sending introduction communications to the first user and the at least one matched other user includes generating a dataset renderable on a mobile device of the first user and on a mobile device of the at least one matched other user, the dataset including data identifying the respective user to which an introduction is being provided.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the profile of the first user with profiles of the identified other users to identify profile matches is performed according to a matching method identified in a data communication received via the network from the first user.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user and the other users each include a profile stored in at least one database against which the comparing of the profile of the first user with profiles of the identified other users is performed.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving profile data of the first user and each of the identified other users from at least one third-party online profile repository; and
wherein the comparing is performed at least in part against the retrieved profile data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and sending introduction communications to each of the first user and at least one matched other user includes:
generating and sending a meeting request to the at least one matched other user;
receiving a communication including data indicating the at least one matched other user accepts the meeting request;
communicating the meeting request communication to the first user.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
transmitting location information to each of the first user and the at least one matched other user identifying respective locations of the other.
9 . A method comprising:
receiving first input from a first user requesting an introduction to another user;
generating and submitting, via a network to an introduction module, a request based on the first input and data representative of a location of the first user;
receiving, via the network, and presenting a view of data identifying a second user;
receiving second input confirming the first user desires an introduction to the second user;
generating and submitting, via the network to the introduction module, a confirmation based on the second input; and
receiving, via the network, data confirming the second user accepted the introduction request and location identifying data of the second user.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first input further includes input selecting a mode of matching the first user to other users by a matching process of the introduction module.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving data confirming the second user accepted the introduction request further includes connectivity data to initiate a communication session between the first user and the second user via a device on which the method is being performed.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first input further includes data identifying an event the first user is attending to limit introductions provided by the introduction module to other users attending the event.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, via the network from the introduction module, an introduction request from a third user, the introduction request including profile data of the third user;
presenting the profile data to the first user;
receiving third input accepting the introduction request;
transmitting, via the network to the introduction module, an acceptance of the introduction.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the data identifying the second user is a user within proximity of the first user.
15 . A system comprising:
at least one processor, at least one memory device, and at least one network interface;
a profile module stored on the at least one memory device and executable on the at least one processor to provide access to user profile data of at least one of the system and a third-party user profile database, the user profile data including location related data for at least some users, the profile module including a matching service to match a profile of a requesting user with profiles of other users;
an introduction module, stored on the at least one memory device and executable on the at least one processor to:
receive, via the at least one network interface device, data identifying a requesting user and a location of the requesting user;
requesting user identifying data of a profile-matched user from the profile module based on the data identifying the requesting user and the location of the requesting user;
receiving user identifying data of the profile-matched user from the profile module; and
generating and sending, via the at least one network interface device, introduction communications to each of the requesting user and the profile-matched user.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the location related data of user profiles is data identifying an event for which a respective user is registered to attend, has attended, or is attending.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the matching service of the profile module includes a plurality of profile matching methods.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the introduction module is further executable by the at least one processor to:
receive, via the at least one network interface device from the requesting user, an identifier of at least one profile matching method to be applied in identifying the profile-matched user.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the third-party user profile database includes a database of an enterprise-class management computer application.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the data identifying the location of the requesting user includes latitude and longitude coordinates.