IP Library Granted Patent US 9,924,306
Granted Patent B2
US 9,924,306 · App. 14/678,727 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Inferential people matching method, system, and device

Inventors: Steven Dennis Flinn (Sugar Land, TX); Naomi Felina Moneypenny (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
H04W4/02G06F15/17306G06F17/30699G06F17/30943G06N5/04G06N5/046G06Q50/01H04L51/04H04L65/403H04L67/306H04W4/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,924,306
App. No.
14/678,727
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inferential people matching method, system, and device infers people's mutual interests in making contact with each other from usage behaviors associated with computer-implemented systems. The usage behaviors may comprise monitored geographic location information that is associated with portable processor-based devices. In accordance with the inference of mutual interest, recommendations of each of two people are generated for delivery to the other of the two people. Expressions of interest between the two people are determined based on usage behaviors exhibited by the two people in response to the recommendations. These post-recommendation usage behaviors may include gestures and physiological responses. A bilateral expression of interest is revealed to the two people if the bilateral expression of interest that is determined from the expressions of interest is sufficient.

Claims (63)

1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors, comprising:

automatically determining, based on the one or more processors inferring usage behaviors by a plurality of users with respect to a computer-implemented system, a mutual interest in establishing contact between a first user and a second user of the plurality of users;

based on the determined mutual interest, generating a first recommendation, comprising a representation of the second user, for delivery to the first user;

based on the determined mutual interest, generating a second recommendation, comprising a representation of the first user, for delivery to the second user;

determining a first expression of interest in the second user based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the first user in response to receiving the first recommendation;

determining a second expression of interest in the first user based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the second user in response to receiving the second recommendation;

determining a bilateral expression of interest between the first user and the second user based on the first expression of interest and the second expression of interest; and

revealing to the first user and the second user the bilateral expression of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein one of the inferred usage behaviors corresponds to a geographic location associated with a location-aware portable device.

3. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the location-aware portable device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

4. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the one of the inferred usage behaviors comprises a mobility of at least one of the first user or the second user inferred based on the geographic location of the at least one of the first user or the second user.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the representation of the second user comprises a picture of the second user.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the one or more behaviors exhibited by the first user comprises a gesture performed by the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

delivering computer-generated content corresponding to the first recommendation to the first user, wherein the computer-generated content comprises a reference to established relationships between users of the computer-implemented system.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a contact feature to enable the first user to contact the second user.

9. A system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to:

automatically determine, based on the one or more processors inferring usage behaviors by a plurality of users with respect to a computer-implemented system, a mutual interest in establishing contact between a first user and a second user of the plurality of users;

based on the determined mutual interest, generate a first recommendation, comprising a representation of the second user, for delivery to the first user;

based on the determined mutual interest, generate a second recommendation, comprising a representation of the first user, for delivery to the second user;

determine a first expression of interest in the second user based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the first user in response to receiving the first recommendation;

determine a second expression of interest in the first user based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the second user in response to receiving the second recommendation;

determine a bilateral expression of interest between the first user and the second user based on the first expression of interest and the second expression of interest; and

reveal to the first user and the second user the bilateral expression of interest.

10. The system of claim 9 ,

wherein one of the inferred usage behaviors corresponds to a geographic location associated with a location-aware portable device.

11. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the location-aware portable device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

12. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the one of the inferred usage behaviors comprises a mobility of at least one of the first user or the second user inferred based on the determined geographic location of the at least one of the first user or the second user.

13. The system of claim 9 ,

wherein at least one of the inferred usage behaviors comprises a tagging behavior performed by the first user.

14. The system of claim 9 ,

wherein a first one of the inferred usage behaviors comprises the first user establishing a computer-implemented relationship between the first user and a third user of the plurality of users, and wherein a second one of the inferred usage behaviors comprises the second user establishing a computer-implemented relationship between the second user and the third user.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processor-based devices are further configured to:

deliver computer-generated content corresponding to the first recommendation to the first user, wherein the computer-generated content comprises a reference to established computer-implemented relationships between users of the computer-implemented system.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processor-based devices are further configured to:

determine a common interest of the first user and the second user from the inferred usage behaviors; and

deliver computer-generated content corresponding to the first recommendation to the first user, wherein the computer-generated content comprises a reference to the common interest of the first user and the second user.

17. A portable processor-based device comprising:

a global positioning system receiver; and

one or more processors configured to:

access geographic location information from the global positioning system receiver;

provide the geographic location information to a computer-implemented matching system that determines a level of mutual interest in establishing contact between a first user of the portable processor-based device and a second user of a second processor-based device, wherein the level of mutual interest is inferred, at least in part, from the geographic location information;

receive a recommendation comprising a representation of the second user, wherein the recommendation is generated based on the level of mutual interest;

determine a first expression of interest based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the first user in response to receiving the recommendation;

provide the determined first expression of interest to the computer-implemented matching system, which determines a bilateral expression of interest between the first user and the second user, wherein the bilateral expression of interest is determined the first expression of interest and a second expression of interest based on one or more behaviors exhibited by the second user in response to receiving a recommendation comprising a representation of the first user;

receive, the computer-implemented matching system, an indication of the bilateral expression of interest between the first user and the second user; and

reveal the indication of the bilateral expression of interest to the first user.

18. The portable processor-based device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, from the computer-implemented matching system, content corresponding to the recommendation comprising the representation of the second user, wherein the content comprises a reference to a proximity of the first user to the second user based on the geographic location information.

19. The portable processor-based device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

monitor a gesture behavior associated with use of the portable processor-based device by the first user;

wherein the one or more processors determine the first expression of interest exhibited by the first user is based on the gesture behavior.

20. The portable processor-based device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

monitor an involuntary physiological response associated with use of the portable processor-based device by the first user;

wherein the one or more processors determine the first expression of interest exhibited by the first user based on the involuntary physiological response.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069110/0508 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) AT REEL 050767, FRAME 0076 Recorded Sep 11, 2024
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069133/0167 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055547/0404 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050767/0109 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050767/0076 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 45853 FRAME: 418. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 26, 2018
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 049259/0064 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2018
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045853/0418 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2017
From: MANYWORLDS, INC.
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042817/0517 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 14083628 · Nov 19, 2013
Continuation 13945658 · Jul 18, 2013
Continuation 13292328 · Nov 9, 2011
Continuation 12773119 · May 4, 2010
Continuation 11845070 · Aug 26, 2007
Provisional Application 60823671 · Aug 28, 2006
Related Publication 20150213367A1 · Jul 30, 2015