Location-based people matching system and method
View Patent ↗A location-based matching system and method matches users of a computer-implemented system in accordance with inferences of mutual interest between the users, whereby the inferences of mutual interest are based on mutual computer-implemented relationships and user location information. Inferences of mutual interest may also be in accordance with a physical object. The inferences of mutual interest may be with respect to interests by users in being physically proximal to each other or being physically proximal to a location associated with one of the users. Information associated with user matches may be delivered to a matched user in the form of a computer-implemented map.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
enabling a first user of a computer-implemented system and a second user of the computer-implemented system to mutually establish a reciprocal computer-implemented relationship;
accessing the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship between the first user of the computer-implemented system and the second user of the computer-implemented system;
identifying a first physical location associated with the first user through the first user's use of a first portable processor-based device;
identifying a second physical location associated with the second user through the second user's use of a second portable processor-based device;
matching the first user and the second user based on an inference of a mutual interest, wherein the inference of the mutual interest is automatically determined by a processor-based device and is based, at least in part, on the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship, the first location associated with the first user, and the second location associated with the second user; and
delivering information associated with the matching to the first user.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
delivering the information associated with the matching to the first user, wherein the delivering of the information is in response to a search request by the first user.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling the first user of the computer-implemented system and the second user of the computer-implemented system to mutually establish the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship, wherein the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship is a reciprocal subscribing relationship.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the second physical location associated with the second user, wherein the second physical location is inferred to be the current physical location of the second user.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
matching the first user and the second user based on the inference of the mutual interest, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user and the second user to be physically proximal.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
matching the first user and the second user based on the inference of the mutual interest, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user to be physically proximal to the second location.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
delivering the information associated with the matching to the first user, wherein the information comprises a computer-implemented map.
8. A system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to execute:
a relationship management function that accesses a reciprocal computer-implemented relationship between a first user of a computer-implemented system and a second user of the computer-implemented system, wherein the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship is mutually established by the first user and the second user;
a user physical location identification function that identifies a first physical location that is associated with the first user and a second physical location that is associated with the second user;
a mutual interest inference function that infers a mutual interest between the first user and the second user based, at least in part, on the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship, the first physical location, and the second location;
a user matching function that determines a match between the first user and the second user in accordance with the inferred mutual interest; and
a match delivery function that delivers information to the first user that is associated with the match between the first user and the second user.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the match delivery function that delivers the information to the first user that is associated with the match between the first user and the second user, wherein the information is delivered to the first user in response to a search request performed by the first user.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the relationship management function that accesses the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship between the first user of the computer-implemented system and the second user of the computer-implemented system, wherein the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship is a subscribing relationship.
11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the user physical location identification function that identifies the first physical location that is associated with the first user and the second physical location that is associated with the second user, wherein the second physical location is inferred to be the current physical location of the second user.
12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the mutual interest inference function that infers the mutual interest between the first user and the second user, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user and the second user to be physically proximal.
13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the mutual interest inference function that infers the mutual interest between the first user and the second user, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user to be physically proximal to the second location.
14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the user match delivery function that delivers information to the first user that is associated with the match between the first user and the second user, wherein the information comprises a computer-implemented map.
15. A system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to execute:
a relationship management function that accesses a reciprocal computer-implemented relationship between a first user of a computer-implemented system and a second user of the computer-implemented system, wherein the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship is mutually established by the first user and the second user;
a user physical location identification function that identifies a first physical location that is associated with the first user and a second physical location that is associated with the second user;
a physical object identification function that identifies a non-human physical object that is associated with the second physical location;
a mutual interest inference function that infers a mutual interest between the first user and the second user based, at least in part, on the reciprocal computer-implemented relationship, the first physical location, and the non-human physical object;
a user matching function that determines a match between the first user and the second user in accordance with the inferred mutual interest; and
a match delivery function that delivers information to the first user that is associated with the match between the first user and the second user.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
the user matching function, wherein the user matching function generates the match in response to a search request by the first user.
17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
the mutual interest inference function that infers the mutual interest between the first user and the second user, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user and the second user to be physically proximal.
18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
an expression of interest function that enables the first user to explicitly express an interest to the second user to be physically proximal to the second user.
19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
the mutual interest inference function that infers the mutual interest between the first user and the second user, wherein the mutual interest is inferred to be an interest by the first user to be physically proximal to the non-human physical object.
20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
the match delivery function that delivers the information to the first user that is associated with the match between the first user and the second user, wherein the information comprises a computer-implemented map.