AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF AN INTERMEDIATE DATING LOCATION
In an example, a system and method are disclosed for providing functionality for two users of a matching service, such as an online dating service, to identify a midpoint at which they may conveniently meet. User locations may be based on exact coordinates, or may be more generalized, such as by zip code or city. A midpoint is identified, which may be a geographic center, or which may be a relatively-centralized place of interest. In some cases, a plurality of potential meeting locations are displayed and are ranked for the user.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving location data for a first user and a second user;
receiving a meeting request;
identifying a midpoint between the first user and second user;
defining a search radius around the midpoint;
searching for meeting locations within the search radius; and
displaying the meeting locations.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising ranking the meeting locations.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein ranking the meeting locations comprises applying a criterion selected from the group consisting of business type, price, reviews, star ranking, special offers, ΔX, ΔT, and sponsorship status.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying an expanded search radius if insufficient meeting locations are identified within the first search radius.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the search radius is between three and nine miles.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a distance D separating the first user from the second user; and
if D is greater than a threshold, identifying an airport as the midpoint.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold for D is approximately 200 miles.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the meeting request is a blind date request.
9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions operable to:
receive location data for a first user and a second user;
receive a meeting request;
identify a midpoint between the first user and second user;
define a search radius around the midpoint;
search for meeting locations within the search radius; and
display the meeting locations.
10 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further operable to rank the meeting locations.
11 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein ranking the meeting locations comprises applying a criterion selected from the group consisting of business type, price, reviews, star ranking, special offers, ΔX, ΔT, and sponsorship status.
12 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further operable to identify an expanded search radius if insufficient meeting locations are identified within the first search radius.
13 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the search radius is between three and nine miles.
14 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further operable to:
identify a distance D separating the first user from the second user; and
if D is greater than a threshold, identify an airport as the midpoint.
15 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the threshold for D is approximately 200 miles.
16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the meeting request is a blind date request.
17 . A server comprising:
a processor;
a network interface; and
a memory having stored thereon software instructions operable to instruct the processor to:
receive, via the network interface, location data for a first user and a second user;
receive a meeting request via the network interface;
identify a midpoint between the first user and second user;
define a search radius around the midpoint;
search for meeting locations within the search radius; and
display the meeting locations.
18 . The server of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further operable to rank the meeting locations.
19 . The server of claim 18 , wherein ranking the meeting locations comprises applying a criterion selected from the group consisting of business type, price, reviews, star ranking, special offers, ΔX, ΔT, and sponsorship status.
20 . The server of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further operable to identify an expanded search radius if insufficient meeting locations are identified within the first search radius.
21 . The server of claim 20 , wherein the search radius is between three and nine miles.
22 . The server of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further operable to:
identify a distance D separating the first user from the second user; and
if D is greater than a threshold, identify an airport as the midpoint.
23 . The server of claim 17 , wherein the meeting request is a blind date request.