WO2008111085A2

WO2008111085A2 - A method and system for blind dating in an electronic dating service

Info

Publication number: WO2008111085A2
Application number: PCT/IL2008/000363
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oren Cohen
Original assignee: Oren Cohen
Priority date: 2007-03-13
Filing date: 2008-03-13
Publication date: 2008-09-18
Also published as: WO2008111085A3

Abstract

A method and system for group dating wherein a graphical meeting scene is displayed in a viewing device of a participant is described. The meeting scene includes representative images associated with other participants of the group meeting. The scene may be dynamically adjusted according to one or more dating events. For example, a personal image of a partner in a pair chat session, conducted during the group dating meeting, may be represented in the viewing device of her partner. Whenever a partner is switched, the personal image of the new active partner appears in the scene.

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BLIND DATING IN AN ELECTRONIC

DATING SERVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to systems, method and computer-readable medium for electronic dating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blind dating

Matchmaking and dating are popular ways to get acquainted. Traditionally, parents assisted in the match making between unwed men and women. Alternatively, aunts, uncles, and other family members and even friends helped to matchmake men and women. However, the unwed men and women often had a limited number of potential dates using the limited network of family and friends. A traditional way to enlarge the number of potential dates is to use a professional matchmaker who matches partners from geographically and socially separated communities. A more modern approach is blind dating wherein the partners involved have not met each other previously, and are then matched for a meeting by a third party. The third party may be a common friend of the partners, but also a workplace associate of friends of the potential date partners, thus increasing the matchmaking network considerably.

Blind dating may be classified according to the extent that the partners are involved in the matching and according to existence of any direct contact between the partners prior to dating. A common type of blind dating is 'partially-blind' blind dating. For example, people often 'meet' initially in chat rooms, or internet forums, and later agree to meet in person. Another type of blind dating is 'strict blind dating' as detailed bellow.

Most recently in the past decades, dating has become a process by which one filter out people that he is not ready to invest more time on examining whether they are worthy of becoming a marriage partner or friend. Consequently, some people find themselves being rejected again and again, they lose their self confidence, and they stop even trying to date out of a fear to be rejected. Strict blind dating is a way to prevent prejudicially rejection of suitable dating partners. In strict blind dating the partners have neither direct involvement in determining the identification of the dating partner, nor having any direct contact with the partner prior to the blind dating. Thus, strict blind lets partner enter into dating, giving shy people, for example, a fair chance to a successful date. However, in such a strict blind dating there is a chance that the partners find themselves with someone that is absolutely not to their taste, and a date for unlimited time might be intolerable load. Thus, limiting the duration of a strict blind date is quite beneficial.

An additional issue concerning blind dating is the rate of reviewing date partners, which in pair dating may be rather low in accordance with the available evenings, as usually a whole evening is devoted to a single date due to the unknown length of the meeting.

Group dating and speed dating

A higher reviewing rate is obtained in group dating, wherein organizers invite people which might be compatible to a suitable location for an event like a dance party, a concert, a cocktail party, an holiday party, a picnic, etc. During the event participants may be introduced to one another shortly by the organizers and they might chat for a desirable duration of time and decide to have a date, or leave their contact information to other participants, in a hope to be contacted by those who passed their fast screening. The drawback is that some people might find themselves not able to attract other people during the group event and thus feel quite bad during and after the event.

A group dating meeting which overcomes those drawbacks have been invented by Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah and is called speed dating. In speed dating, men and women are rotated to meet each other over a series of short dates, usually lasting from three to eight minutes. At the end of each interval, the organizer rings a bell to signal the participants to move on to the next date. At the end of the event participants submit to the organizers a list of who they would like to further confer and provide their contact information to. If there is a match, namely both partners indicated a willingness to further contact or confer, contact information is forwarded to both partners. Contact information cannot be traded during the initial meeting, in order to reduce pressure to accept or reject a suitor to their face.

Referring now to electronic dating, nowadays fast-paced lifestyles have caused single people to come under increasing time pressures at work, school, and play, leaving little time for conventional dating. Furthermore, individuals have higher expectations of meeting the right person, with whom they are compatible. Also, workplace romance is on the decline due to growing sensitivity about sexual harassment. Consequently, many singles are enlisting the use of electronic dating services, hoping to have a convenient and effective dating experience. In particular, online web based dating is becoming increasingly popular.

In online blind dating, users are connected for a brief duration of time, during which the users have a date, or more specifically, a real-time conversation. After the real-time conversation, the users are disconnected from each other and are separately asked if they would like to have further contact with each other. If both users respond affirmatively then they are allowed further contact with each other.

In a group dating method, disclosed in US 7203674 to M. Cohen, a user wishes to participate in a group dating. The user is presented with a list of upcoming group dating events, events which require that the users meet certain criteria depending on their user profiles. The list of upcoming group dating events may include presenting descriptive fields such as event description, event start date/time, event status, number of dates, or number of places remaining. If there are still places remaining on an event, the user will have the opportunity to select that event to join it.

Shortly before the event start time, compatible users are paired for a round of dates, and during the group dating meeting the paired users are connected to have an electronic date. When the round of dates is complete, another round may take place, with new pairings, such that every user goes on a date with a compatible user with whom they have not previously gone on a date with.

On line speed dating is a sub-class of online group dating, wherein group dating is not necessarily a speed dating. In an online speed dating, the time duration of a 'pair chat session¹ is limited. The online speed dating provides a way for a user to meet several other compatible users in succession within a predefined timeframe, thus providing a very efficient way for individuals to meet a plurality of compatible individuals in a short space of time.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart of the method of the prior art for a online group dating meeting. The method comprises: i)Collecting personal information, ii) Designating dating candidates in accordance with the collected personal information, iii) Establishing meeting parameters comprising identification of meeting participants, iv) Matching couples of partners for a 'pair chat session', v) Replacing a first active partner of a meeting participant with a second active partner of the meeting participant, vi) Storing indications of a willingness of a 'pair chat session' partner to further confer with the other partner.

Comparing the tangibility of real group dating with online group dating shows a significant difference. In a real group dating conferred in a real location, the participant gives a glance over the meeting place and tangibly knows that so many attractive partners he is expected to meet. In contrast, in the prior art group dating meeting, the presence of the other participants may be exposed in a text appearing on the screen but the other participants presence has no tangible manifestation.

SUMMARY

It is disclosed for the first time a method for group dating comprising: a) collecting personal information about a plurality of individuals. In some embodiments, the personal information includes at least one personal characteristic selected from the group consisting of personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences. b) Designating a plurality of dating candidates for a group dating meeting. The dating candidates are selected out of the plurality of individuals in accordance with a dating compatibility estimate determined according to the collected personality characteristics, c) Selecting four or more participants for the group dating meeting. The participants are selected from the plurality of dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability, d) Matching multiple couples of chat-partners for simultaneous pair-chat sessions. The multiple couples of partners being selected out of the four or more participants of the group dating meeting, e) Displaying a graphical meeting scene. The scene includes a plurality of representative images, each the representative image representing a different respective participant of the group dating meeting, f) Moving or modifying the representative images in response to chat events of the simultaneous pair-chat sessions.

In some embodiments the personal characteristic include personality trait indications of introvertness, openness, sociableness, intelligence, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with one or more of the personality trait indications.

In some embodiments the personal characteristic include personal appearance descriptors of hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with one or more of the personal appearance descriptors.

In some embodiments the personal characteristic include educational history indications of attended schools, held diplomas, profession, membership in professional associations, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with one or more of the educational history indications.

In some embodiments the personal characteristic include recreation preference indications of favorite sports teams, favorite recreation sites, music likes and dislikes, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be . carried out in accordance with one or more the recreation preference indications.

In some embodiments the chat events include a commencing of a pair chat session, a terminating of a pair chat session, and a replacement of a first chat-partner of a meeting participant with a second chat-partner of a meeting participant. They also include an expressing of an indication to further confer with a chat-partner after terminating a pair chat session.

In some embodiments, in response to a replacement of a first chat-partner of a meeting participant with a second chat-partner of said meeting participant, effecting the following: (i) effecting, to the representative image representative of the first chat-partner at least one of a darkening, a color changes , and a size reduction, (ii) Effecting, to the representative image representative of the second chat-partner at least one of a brightening, a color changes, and a size increase. In some embodiments the method further comprises revealing to a first chat partner of a pair chat session personal information associated with a second chat partner of the pair chat session in accordance with an elapsed time during the pair chat session. The revealed personal information includes at least one personal characteristic selected from the group consisting of personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences.

In some embodiments the representative image is either an icon representative the participant or a personal image of the participant.

In some embodiments an icon representative of the participant is replaced with a personal image thereof in response to a commencing of a pair chat session with the participant.

In some embodiments a personal image representative of a participant is replaced with an icon representative of the participant in response to a termination of a pair chat session with the participant.

In some embodiments a representative image of a participant is removed from a first site in the graphical meeting scene to a second site thereof in response to a termination of a pair chat session with the participant.

In some embodiments the graphical meeting scene comprises a background scene. The method further comprises replacing a first background scene with a second background towards the end of a pair chat session, the second background scene reflecting a different meeting atmosphere by changing background scene elements of brightness, presence of decorating flowers, furniture, waiter dress, etc.

In some embodiments the graphical meting scene comprises a table. The method further comprises throwing flowers on the table in response to a chat event of pressing a flower button expressing a willingness to further confer after a terminated pair chat session. Red flower is being thrown on the table in response to pressing a red flower button, and black flower is being thrown thereof in response to pressing a black flower.

In some embodiments the selecting of meeting participants is carried out in a gender-dependent manner.

In some embodiments the pair chat session is conveyed via text messaging, or a voice channel over an internet protocol link, or an audio video channel carried over the internet, or telephone link initiated at about same time to both partners of the pair chat session.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises limiting at least one of the pair chat sessions to a predetermined time.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of limiting to a predetermined time, in case a pair chat session conducted consequently via two or more communication channels, the duration of using at least one of the channels.

In some embodiments the method further comprises the steps of: a) enabling or soliciting a first chat partner to indicate a willingness to further confer with a second chat partner of a terminated pair chat session. b)Storing the indication of a willingness to further confer in a storage. c)Adding the second chat partner of the terminated pair chat session to a list of matching dates in accordance with the indications in the storage.

In some embodiments the method includes replacing an icon representing a meeting participant with a personal image of the meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a pair chat session to a multiple chat session. The conversion occurs by joining the participant to a pair chat session as a passive participant. Passive presence includes receiving one or more data items received by chat partners. The joining occurs as a result of the steps of: i) a participant solicits a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in the pair chat session, ii) The participant gets a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in the pair chat session, iii) The participant joins the pair chat session as a passive participant.

In some embodiments the method includes replacing an icon representing a meeting participant with a personal image of the meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a pair chat session to a multiple chat session. The conversion occurs by joining the participant to a pair chat session as an active participant. Active presence includes chatting with chat-partners of the pair chat session. The joining occurs as a result of the steps of: i) a participant solicits a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be actively present in the pair chat session, ii) The participant gets a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be actively present in the pair chat session, iii) The participant joins the pair chat session as an active participant.

In some embodiments the method further comprises receiving an electronic media content of a pair chat session by an agreed eavesdropping. A chat event is determined according to features of the electronic media content.

In some embodiments the method further comprises analyzing at least one of voice content and chat text of a pair chat session . A chat events is determined by the presence of predetermined keywords and phrases in the voice content and chat text.

In some embodiments the method further comprises analyzing electronic media content of a voice pair chat session to determine speech delivery features. A chat event is determined in accordance with the speech delivery features. In one embodiment, the determined speech delivery features include features of emotion, accent, speech speed, presence of laughter, voice tone , voice pitch, mood , etc.

It is disclosed for the first time, a computerized dating system comprising a database unit for storing user registration data, personal data, and entrance data, a matchmaker unit , and a group dating interface.

The matchmaker unit is operative to: i)collect personal information about a plurality of individuals. The personal information includes personal characteristics like personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences, ii) Designate dating candidates for a group dating meeting. The dating candidates are selected out of the individuals in accordance with an estimate of compatibility thereof to the group dating meeting in view of the collected personal information. iii)Select four or more participants of the group dating meeting. The participants are selected from dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability, iv) Match multiple couples of chat-partners for simultaneous pair-chat sessions. The multiple couples of partners are selected out of the participants of the group dating meeting.

The group dating interface is operative to: (A) display a graphical meeting scene. The scene including representative images, each the representative image representing a different respective participant of the meeting participants. B)Move or modify the representative images in response to chat events of the simultaneous pair- chat sessions. It is disclosed for the first time a graphical meeting scene module incorporated in a system for operation of a group dating meeting. The graphical meeting scene module comprises: a) a graphical meeting scene integrator, b) Image libraries which include representative images, c) Meeting scene libraries which include meeting scene pictures. The meeting scene picture has place holders, receivable of representative images.

The meeting scene integrator loads a meeting scene picture from a meeting scene library, loads representative images from the image libraries and install the representative images the place holders, creating a meeting scene with representative images. Then, the meeting scene integrator causes a display of a meeting scene with representative images on a viewing device of a group dating meeting participant.

It is disclosed for the first time, a Graphic User Interface (GUI) module at a personal viewing device of a participant of a group dating meeting, during which a pair chat sessions are conducted. The GUI module comprises a meeting scene with representative images. Each representative image is representative of a respective participant of the group dating meeting. The representative images are modified in response to chat events.

These and further embodiments will be apparent from the detailed description and examples that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

Fig 1 (PRIOR ART) illustrates a prior art method for group dating meeting. Fig. 2 depicts a method for group dating meeting according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a viewing area of a viewing device of a group meeting participant according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig.4 shows a meeting scene with a personal picture as the representative image of an active partner, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 5 shows a text messaging interface connecting partners in a 'pair chat session'. Fig. 6 shows a viewing area of a viewing device of a group meeting participant while a audio video chat is conducted between partners at a 'pair chat session'. Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a telephone link between two partners of a 'pair chat session'. Fig. 8 illustrates a dialogue frame regarding further conferring with a partner of a

'pair chat session'. Fig. 9 illustrates switching an active participant in a 'par chat session', accompanied by displaying a personal picture of the new active participant, and replacing the personal image of former active partner with an icon. Fig. 10 shows a list of matched dates enabled by some embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 11 illustrates the display of an additional passive participant in addition to the chat partners of a 'pair chat session' according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 illustrates the display of an additional active participant in addition to the chat partners of a 'pair chat session' according to some embodiments. Fig. 13a depicts a method for group dating meeting according to some embodiments. Fig. 13b depicts a method for group dating meeting according to some embodiments. Fig. 14 shows a method for group dating meeting according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a block diagram of a computerized dating system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a block diagram of a graphical meeting scene module according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a block diagram of a computer network hosting the system for group dating according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a block diagram of a graphical user interface module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and systems handling group dating meeting described is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and features of devices are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.

It should be noted that the method and system of the present invention may be generally implemented to communicating through a world wide network of computers. More particularly, the present method and system include a way of communicating between a first and second user using a live group meeting technique. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied for dating using a one wide network of computers, such as the Internet. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of application, both regarding communication environment and regarding the object of the group meeting. Thus, the invention can be applied in a cellular network, either by a cellular utility or by a member of an internal network of cellular phones and portable personal devices. The invention can also be carried by an application in a social network, like FACEBOOK.COM.

Generally speaking, the invention may be applied in an online group meeting which includes an option of isolated meetings of two or more participants. On the way of example only, the invention may be applied in a speed group meeting of entrepreneurs and investors, in a political meeting, and in online reunion meetings.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary technique for providing an electronic dating service . In step 103, personal information is collected. The information may be collected from any information source. In one non-limiting example, subscribers or registered users provide information upon registration to a dating service. In the registration phase, the website collects personal information like name, address, age, religion, and/or credit card details. The personal information includes personal characteristics selected from the group consisting of personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences.

In some embodiments the personal characteristics include personality trait indications of introvertness, openness, sociableness, intelligence, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with the personality trait indications.

In some embodiments the personal characteristics include personal appearance descriptors of at least one of hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with the personal appearance descriptors.

In some embodiments the personal characteristics include educational history indications of at least one of attended schools, held diplomas, profession, membership in professional associations, etc. The designating of meeting candidates may be carried out in accordance with the educational history indications.

In some embodiments the personal characteristics include recreation preference indications of at least one of favorite sports teams, favorite recreation sites, music likes and dislikes, etc. The designating of meeting candidates is carried out in accordance with the recreation preference indications.

In one non-limiting example, the method is operated by a dating application in a social network website, FACEBOOK.COM for example. The personal information, like name, address, age, religion, acceptable range of partner age, sexual orientation, ethnic details, occupation, likes and dislikes may be included in the personal profile of the dating meeting participant. In the process of registration to the dating application, the personal profiles are made accessible to the dating application.

The second step of method 100 is designating 105 of dating candidates for certain group dating meeting in accordance with the collected personal information. Such a designation may be initiated by the potential participants, by a computerized dating system, or by either one of the two.

According to some embodiments, the designation is a consequence of mutual interaction between the potential participants and the computerized dating system, as further elaborated bellow. An additional step of method 100 is selecting 110 meeting parameters comprising identification of four or more meeting participants. The meeting participants are selected out of the designated dating candidates in accordance with their schedule availability at a common time slot. Four participants at least are needed for two 'pair chat sessions' to be conducted simultaneously.

In some embodiments the selecting of meeting participants is carried out in a gender-dependent manner. The gender- dependent manner may be expressed by a target gender ratio. In one example, the target gender ratio is 50:50, and the selecting of meeting participants is carried out with a balanced number at each gender in mind, as detailed bellow.

In some embodiments step 110 is carried on after completion of step 105. Finding a common available time slot for a meeting of designated participants is a well known task, which can be addressed successfully using offline or online methods of secretarial work. In one example, several potential time slots are determined and messages are sent to the designated candidates asking for an indication of available time slots. Suppose, for example, that it is desirable to get an approximately balanced number of males and females for a meeting, and getting female participants is known to be harder than getting male participants. Then, upon reception of available time slot indications from most of the designated dating candidates, a time slot with a maximal number of available female participants is chosen, and the number of available male participants is examined. Then, a message is sent to designated meeting candidates having a common available time slot, requesting final confirmation, and thus selecting 110 meeting participants is completed.

In another example, upon reception of available time slot indications from substantial portion of the designated dating candidates, a time slot with the most balanced numbers of male and female participants, which are available thereof, is looked for. In another example, similar to a scheduling feature of MICROSOFT OUTLOOK application, the time schedules of the dating candidates are simultaneously loaded into a single window and consequently an available time slot is easily found.

In some embodiments, step 110 is conducted simultaneously with step 105. For example, a dating website publishes a list of upcoming group dating events, events which require that the participants meet certain criteria separately unique to each event. The list of upcoming group dating meetings may include presenting descriptive fields such as event description, expected features of a participant, event start date/time, event status, number of dates, or number of places remaining. A potential participant chooses a group dating meeting compatible with his profile and planned for convenient time slot, and thus becomes a designated dating candidate for that meeting, as per step 105. If there are still places remaining on a group dating meeting planned for a time slot that fits his schedule, the designated dating candidate registers to the group dating meeting and thus completes his selection as a meeting participant as per step 110.

The availability of the meeting participants at a common time slot is a necessary condition but sometimes not a sufficient condition, as the operation of a group dating meeting might require significant computing resources, depending on the number of participants. These significant computing resources should be accessible at the commonly available time slot.

Referring now to typical numbers involved, in a way of example only, a reasonable time duration for a group dating meeting is on the range of one to two hours. Assuming a time duration of 3-8 minutes for every 'pair chat session', the number of participants should be between ten and hundred participants. Thus, a dating service or application with thousands of users may initiate a certain group dating event with designation of 30-300 candidates, which may be attracted to the group dating meeting. For example, in a meeting aimed at single Chicagoans of ages 40-50, a online dating service might designate 100 dating candidates, at substantially balanced number of men and women, in order to have a group meeting with 10-20 participants.

The next step of method 100 is matching 115 couples of chat partners for a 'pair chat session'. For example only, in a group meeting with eight men and eight women, every man might be sequentially matched to every women as all participants comply with the desired participant profile. Matching may be done prior to the group meeting. In another example, with larger groups of unequal number at each gender, part of the matching 115 may be postponed to the time of the group meeting itself wherein matching 115 may be conducted in accordance with the progress of 'pair chat session's, taking remained time into consideration. Also, matching 115 may take into account personal information of the participants, in a way that complements the designation of dating candidates in step 105. Thus for example, in a group dating meeting of numerous participants, a female participant may date with only small portion of the male participants, including only those well within her preference information.

It should be noted that various matchmaking techniques known in the art of traditional matchmaking and in the art of online matchmaking may be utilized in the matching of step 115.

Method 100 includes displaying 120 of a graphical meeting scene 320 in the viewing area 325 of a viewing device of a meeting participant, as illustrated in Fig. 3. According to one embodiment, presented in Fig. 3, the viewing area also includes upper command buttons 340, a START button 350, an instant messaging interface 360, frames 380, 400 and 410 for an audio video chat as explained bellow, and a "willingness to confer" indication 420. On the way of example, the meeting scene 320 includes a round table 430. The graphical meeting scene 320 includes a plurality of representative images 465, each the representative image 465 associated with a respective participant. The graphical meeting scene 320, and especially the representative images may be dynamically modified in response to chat events, and the introduction of a graphical meeting scene 320 showing participants makes the group meeting tangible and more vivid.

In some embodiments the meeting participants 465 represented on the graphical meeting scene 320 by representative images are a sub group of the meeting participants. The selection is made in accordance with the gender thereof.

In some embodiments, all the planned matching dates for the participant having the viewing device appear in the meeting scene. This enables the participant to know in a tangible way how many more dates he is planned for.

In the examples of figures 3,4 and 6, all the representative images 465 are women, a gender different from the gender of the male participant 405* viewing the graphical meeting scene 320.

According to some embodiments the representative image 465 associated with a respective participant is one of two or more representative images including an icon representative the participant or associated with the participant, and a personal image of the participant, as show Figs. 3 and 4. 465a* is a personal image of a participant, while 465b, 465c, 465d and 465e are similar icons associated with the participant, symbolizing their female identification. It should be noted that a black eye cover rectangle appearing on all the personal images of Figs 3, 4,6,8,9,10,11,12 is intended to protect the privacy of the specific photographed individuals and does not necessarily represent an actual embodiment.

In some embodiments the chat partner 465a* of a 'pair chat session' is represented by a personal image. In the example of Figures 3 and 4 , the personal image 465 a* is of the chat partner of the participant using the viewing device, while 465b, 465c, 465d and 465e are not chat partners, and are represented by a similar icon associated with their female identification.

In some embodiments, several personal pictures of a participant 465 a* are available and during a 'pair chat session' they may be replaced to reflect a desired level of intimacy.

In some embodiments, two or more icons may be used to represent non-active participants at various phases of the 'pair chat session'. For example, two different icons may represent participants before and after participating a 'pair chat session' with participant 405*. Similarly, different icons may represent a participant in a 'pair chat session' (even not with participant 405*) and a participant idly waiting for a 'pair chat session '.

In some embodiments the method 100 further comprises revealing to the chat partner 405* personal information associated with chat partner 465a* in accordance with an elapsed time during the pair chat session. Namely, that information is not available to the participant 405* before the commencing of the pair chat session. Having no personal information regarding the meeting participants, the chat partners 405* and 465a* are unable to designate a participant 465a* and 405*, respectively, as a desirable chat partner for a 'pair chat session'. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in a group meeting with five men and five women, every man is scheduled to meet each of the five women, and no information on those women appears in the viewing device of participant 405* prior to commencing the first 'pair chat session'. Thus, the dating is a strict blind dating. Fig. 5 shows an exemplary instant messaging interface 360 after the START button 350 have been clicked on by the partner 405* (Jonnyboy) having the viewing device 325. Partner 405* writes a message in the writing area 500, clicks on SEND button 530, submitting the message to the active partner 465a*(Misty), and the whole dialogue 520 appears in the dialogue area 540 .

In some embodiments, after a while the chat partners may decide to alleviate their level of intimacy and they continue convey their chat in an audio channel or in an audio video channel, by pressing button 550 or button 560, respectively. The active partner 405* may affect the writing color 600 or the writing font 620, may command printing 630 or may save 640 the dialogue 520 for a later inspection.

Once an audio video channel have been agreed upon between the partners of the 'pair chat session', and both have clicked on button 560, they start a live conversation, as illustrated in Fig. 6. A live image of active partner 405* appears in frame 400, and a live image 385* of his partner 465a* shows up in frame 380.

According to some embodiments a portion of a 'pair chat session' duration is limited to a predetermined time interval. This interval may be approximately uniform for all 'pair chat session's taking part in the group dating meeting, enabling synchronization of partner switching in pair chat sessions, conducted simultaneously. In the example of Fig. 6, a clock appears in frame 415, once the audio-video chat have began, urging partners to usefully exploit their limited audio- video chat time.

In some embodiments, the duration of the 'pair chat session' is divided between several communication channels. As an example only, a 'pair chat session' may be divided to a first part of instant messaging without time limitation, and a second part of audio-video channel limited to 120 seconds. Yet, the instant messaging is naturally short as it competes with conferring via a audio-video channel, and thus the limitation on the audio-video channel ensures some synchronization.

According to some embodiments, illustrated in Fig. 8, the 'pair chat session' is conveyed via a telephone link 660. In some embodiments link 660 is initiated 666 at about same time to both partners, in an operation led by a computerized dating system 668, using the service or technology ofJAJAH.COM.

According to some embodiments, in the end of a 'pair chat session' each partner 405* may indicate his willingness to further confer with the other partner. In the example of figures 6 and 8 the partner is enabled to indicates a willingness to further confer by clicking on the upper flower of frame 420 , which is a red flower, or indicate a reluctance to further confer by clicking on the lower black flower. Either flower is shown to be thrown on table 430, but the action is not disclosed to the other partner in any way.

In one embodiment, depicted in Fig. 9, if no flower has been thrown, a frame 480 appears requesting the participant to indicate one of two options about a future meeting, whether the partner decline to meet the other partner at any time, or he is ready to meet her at some time in the future. In one embodiment, an indication of a willingness to further confer may be graded on a three-level scale: enthusiasm, readiness, reluctance.

The next step of method 100 comprises moving or modifying 130 the representative images in response to chat events of the simultaneous pair-chat sessions. Comparing Fig. 8 and 9, the personal image associated with chat partner 465a* of a meeting participant 405* is replaced with a female icon associated with chat partner 465a* in response to the chat event of terminating the pair chat session of participants 405* and 465a*. On the other hand, the female icon representative of a chat partner 465b* of the meeting participant 405* is replaced with a personal image in response to the chat event of commencing a pair chat event of participants 405* and 465b*.

According to some embodiments the method 100 further comprising storing 135 of the indications to further confer.

The users of the computerized dating system may use the system and the indications gathered in a group dating meeting which they have participated to further confer with their past chat-partners in a past group dating meeting. After clicking on button 700, a list of matching dates appears along with their pictures and identification, as shows Fig. 11. The participants may be identified by a name they have chosen to represent them in the dating system. At least part of the matched users may stem from common participation in a group dating meeting and from being partners in a 'pair chat session'. Usually, as two partners have indicated a willingness to further confer, they appear in the matching list of one another. A user 405* may click on button 720 and the computerized dating system connects him to his match for a date duration limited by a mutual interest. In the case of a charging dating service the date duration is also limited by an available credit.

In some embodiments, illustrated in Fig. 11 and 13a method 789 includes replacing an icon 465c representing a meeting participant with a personal image 465c' of a meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a 'pair chat session' to a 'multiple chat session of a first type¹. The conversion occurs by joining the participant 465c' to a pair chat session as a passive participant. Passive presence includes receiving data items received by chat partners 465a* and 405*. The joining occurs as a result of the steps of: i) a participant solicits 790 a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in the pair chat session, ii) The participant gets 791 a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in the pair chat session, iii) The participant joins 792 the pair chat session as a passive participant.

In some embodiments, illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13b, the method includes replacing an icon 465d representing a meeting participant with a personal image 465d" of the meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a pair chat session to a 'multiple chat session of a second type'. The conversion occurs by joining the participant to a pair chat session as an active participant. Active presence includes chatting with chat-partners 465a* and 405* of the pair chat session. The joining occurs as a result of the steps of: i) a participant solicits 794 a permission from the partners 465a* and 405* of a pair chat session to be actively present in the pair chat session, ii) The participant gets 795 a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be actively present in the pair chat session, iii) The participant joins 796 the pair chat session as an active participant.

For the present disclosure, chat may refer to (i) Ordinary text chat' with no requirement exchange of audio or video content and/or (ii) audio or 'voice chat' and/or (iii) video chat.

Referring now to Fig. 14, electronic media content (i.e. audio content and/or video content) may be created during a group dating meeting and during 'pair chat session's. It is possible to use features of the electronic media content to affect the management of the group dating meeting, for example, by switching of a 'pair chat session' partner. For example only, the voice level in an audio chat session can be analyzed and if it shows an unpleasant atmosphere (i.e. according to the words and/or according to 'speech delivery features' such as voice tone and voice pitch) in the pair chat meeting, switching can be done earlier. In another example, the rate and length of messages in instant messaging may be used as a measure of the mutual interest and excitement generated during a 'pair chat session', and may be used as an input data to a code controlling the group dating meeting.

As collection and analysis of an electronic media content seems to be a kind of eavesdropping, it should be agreed upon with participants. This can be done in the stage of registration, for example.

Thus, according to some embodiments a method 800 comprising the steps of method 100, further includes receiving 802 an electronic media content of a 'pair chat session' by an agreed eavesdropping, and determining 804 a chat event in accordance with features of the electronic media content.

In one example, a 'pair chat session' is instant messaging chat and text messages are analyzed for keywords and phrases indicative of the dating atmosphere. A list of predetermined keywords and phrases may include : love, enjoy, kiss, hug, "you seem nice", "having good time", " time is running fast" ,"I agree".

In one example, a 'pair chat session¹ is telephone chat or computer audio chat or audio-video chat, and the voice is analyzed for features indicative of the dating atmosphere, like simultaneous laughter, speech speed, emotion feature, etc. For example, once an indication for a good atmosphere is found, the graphical meeting scenes at the viewing devices of both chat-partners may be modified simultaneously to reflect such an atmosphere. Imagine that vases with nice bouquets of flower appear simultaneously on the tables of both chat-partner, arousing some excitement on the chat and providing the chat partners a nice topic to discuss.

The methods of the present invention can be carried on the personal viewing devices of participants of the group dating meeting and on at least one computer connected to the personal viewing devices. The software tools, including codes, interfaces and web pages, which facilitate the aforementioned methods may be physically divided between the personal viewing devices of participants and the at least one computer connected to the personal viewing devices. A personal viewing device may be a personal computer, a cellular phone, a portable assistant device, a portable media device, etc.

Referring now to Fig. 15, it is now disclosed for the first time a computerized dating system 810 which provide visualization of a group dating meeting. The system 810 comprises a database unit 811 for storing user registration data, personal data, and entrance data, a matchmaker unit 812 , and a group dating interface 815.

The matchmaker unit 812 is operative to: i)collect personal information about a plurality of individuals. The personal information includes personal characteristics like personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences, ii) Designate dating candidates for a group dating meeting. The dating candidates are selected out of the individuals in accordance with an estimate of compatibility thereof to the group dating meeting in view of the collected personality characteristic. iii)Select four or more participants of the group dating meeting. The participants are selected from dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability, iv) Match multiple couples of chat-partners, 405* and 465a* for example, for simultaneous pair-chat sessions. The multiple couples of partners are selected out of the participants of the group dating meeting.

The group dating interface is operative to: (A) display a graphical meeting scene 320. The scene including representative images 465a, 465b, 465c, 465d, each the representative image representing a different respective participant of the meeting participants. B)Move or modify the representative images 465a, 465b, 465c, 465d in response to chat events of the simultaneous pair-chat sessions.

In some embodiments the database 811 comprises indications 835 of a willingness 480 of an active partner 405* of a 'pair chat session¹ to further confer with an active partner 465a* of the 'pair chat session'.

Referring to Fig. 16, it is now disclosed for the first time a graphical meeting scene module 850 incorporated in a system 860 for operation of a group dating meeting. The graphical meeting scene module 850 comprises: a) A graphical meeting scene integrator 877. b) Image libraries 880 and 882, including several representative images 465. c) A meeting scene library 885 which include meeting scene pictures 320. Each meeting scene picture 320 has several place holders 460, each receivable of a representative image 465. The meeting scene integrator 877 loads a meeting scene picture 320 from a meeting scene library 885, and loads representative images 465 from the image libraries, installing them in the place holders 460. Thus, it creates a meeting scene 320 with representative images 465. The meeting scene integrator 860 causes a display of a meeting scene 320 with representative images 465 on a viewing area 300 of a viewing device of a participant 405* of the group dating meeting.

According to some embodiments, image library 880 includes icons 465 representing participants of the group dating meeting.

According to some embodiments, image library 882 includes personal images 465a* of participants of the group dating meeting.

In some embodiments, a system for group dating meeting is carried on two or more different computers and on the personal viewing devices of the participants. In some embodiments the personal viewing device is a participant personal computer 920, as illustrated in Fig. 17, and the two or more different computers are a hosting website 922, a server database 924 and a video server 926. The hosting website 922 registers the users and enable downloading of a client side application code to the participant personal computer 920. During group dating meeting the hosting website 922 receives and sends information to and from the database server 924, the video server 926, and the participant personal computers 920. The database server 924 stores user information, including dating history and account data. The video server 926 is used during audio-video chat session to deliver large data chunks between the participant personal computers 920 of dating partners.

Referring now to Fig. 18, it is now disclosed for the first time a Graphic User Interface(GUI) module 930 at a personal viewing device 938 of a participant 405* of a group dating meeting. The group dating meeting is operated by a computerized dating system 950. The GUI module 930 comprising a meeting scene 940. The meeting scene including a plurality of representative images 465, each the representative image 465 associated with a respective participant of the group dating meeting. The representative images, as well as other features of the graphical meeting scene, may be dynamically modified in response to chat events.

In some embodiments the representative image of an active partner 465a* of a 'pair chat session' conducted in the group dating meeting is a personal picture, while the other representative images 465b, 465c, 465d and 465e are icons associated with respective participants of the group dating meeting.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs "comprise", "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

US 7203674 to M. Cohen is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that are described, and embodiments of the present invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons of the art.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for group dating comprising: a) collecting personal information about a plurality of individuals, the personal information including at least one personal characteristic selected from the group consisting of personality trait, personal appearance descriptor, educational history and recreation preferences; b) designating a plurality of dating candidates for a group dating meeting, the dating candidates selected out of said plurality of individuals in accordance with a dating compatibility estimate determined according to the collected personality characteristics; c) selecting four or more participants for said group dating meeting, the participants selected from said plurality of dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability; d) matching multiple couples of chat-partners for simultaneous pair-chat sessions, the multiple couples of partners being selected out of said four or more participants of said group dating meeting; e) displaying a graphical meeting scene, the scene including a plurality of representative images, each said representative image representing a different respective participant of the group dating meeting; and f) effecting at least one of moving and modifying to at least one said representative image of the displayed graphical meeting scene in response to one or more chat events of one or more of said simultaneous pair-chat sessions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

(i) said at least one personal characteristic includes at least one personality trait indication selected from the group consisting of an introvertness indication, an openness indication, a sociableness indication and an intelligence indication; and (ii) said designating of step (b) is carried out in accordance with said at least one personality trait indication.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein (i) said at least one personal characteristic includes at least one personal appearance descriptor selected from the group consisting of hair color, eye color, height, and weight;

(ii) said designating of step (b) is carried out in accordance with said at least one personal appearance descriptor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

(i) said at least one personal characteristic includes at least one educational history indication selected from the group consisting of attended schools, held diplomas, profession and membership in professional associations; and

(ii) said designating of step (b) is carried out in accordance with said at least one educational history indication.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

(i) said at least one personal characteristic includes at least one recreation preference indication of sports teams preferences, vacation preferences, and music preferences; and

(ii) said designating of step (b) is carried out in accordance with said at least one recreation preference indication.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one said chat event is selected from the group consisting of a commencing of a pair chat session, a terminating of a pair chat session, a replacement of a first chat-partner of a meeting participant with a second chat-partner of a meeting participant , and an expressing of an indication to further confer with a chat-partner after terminating a pair chat session.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said representative image modifying of step (f) includes, in response to a replacement of a first chat-partner of a meeting participant with a second chat-partner of said meeting participant, effecting the following:

(i) effecting, to the representative image representative of the first chat- partner at least one of a darkening, a color changes , and a size reduction; and (ii) effecting, to the representative image representative of the second chat-partner at least one of a brightening, a color changes, and a size increase.

8. The claim of method 1 further comprising revealing to a first chat partner of a pair chat session personal information associated with a second chat partner of said pair chat session in accordance with an elapsed time during the pair chat session, the revealed personal information including at least one personal characteristic selected from the group consisting of personality trait , personal appearance descriptor , educational history and recreation preferences.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said representative image representative of said respective participant is one of an icon representative the participant and a personal image of the participant.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said representative image modifying of step (f) includes replacing an icon representative of a given participant of the group dating meeting with a personal image representative of a participant in response to a chat event of commencing a pair chat session with the given participant of the group dating meeting.

11. The claim of method 1 wherein said representative image modifying of step ( f) includes replacing a personal image representative of a given participant with an icon representative of the participant in response to a chat event of terminating a pair chat session with the given participant of the group dating meeting.

12. The claim of method 1 wherein said representative image moving of step ( f) includes moving a representative image representative of a given participant from a first site in the graphical meeting scene to a second site thereof in response to a chat event of terminating a pair chat session with the given participant of the group dating meeting.

13. The claim of method 1 wherein the graphical meeting scene comprises a background scene, the method further comprising: g) replacing a first background scene with a second background towards the end of a pair chat session, the second background scene reflecting a different meeting atmosphere by changing at least one background item selected from the group consisting background scene elements of brightness, presence of decorating flowers, furniture and waiter dress.

14. The claim of method 1 wherein the graphical meting scene comprises a table and , the method further comprising: g) virtually throwing flowers on said table in response to a chat event of pressing a flower button expressing a willingness of a first chat-partner of a terminated pair chat session to further confer with a second chat-partner of said terminated pair chat session, red flower being thrown on the table in response to pressing a red flower button, and black flower being thrown thereof in response to pressing a black flower.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting four or more participants for the group dating meeting of step (b) is carried out in a gender-dependent manner.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein meeting participants represented on said graphical meeting scene by representative images are selected from said four or more meeting participants, the selection being made in a gender dependent manner .

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said pair chat session is conveyed via one or more of:

A) text messaging;

B) a voice channel over an internet protocol link;

C) an audio video channel carried over the internet; and

D) a telephone link initiated at about same time to both partners of said pair chat session.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of limiting at least one of the pair chat sessions to a predetermined time.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of limiting to a predetermined time, in case a pair chat session conducted consequently via two or more communication channels, the duration of using at least one of the channels.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising: i) soliciting a first chat partner to indicate a willingness to further confer with a second chat partner of a terminated pair chat session; ii) storing the indication of a willing to further confer in a storage; and iii) adding said second chat partner of said terminated pair chat session to a list of matching dates in accordance with the indications in said storage.

21. The claim of method 1 wherein said representative image modifying of step (f) includes replacing an icon representing a meeting participant with a personal image of said meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a pair chat session to a multiple chat session, the conversion occurring by joining the participant to a pair chat session as a passive participant as a result of the steps of: i) a participant soliciting a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in said pair chat session, passive presence includes receiving one or more data items received by chat partners; ii) said participant getting a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be passively present in said pair chat session; and iii) said participant joining the pair chat session as a passive participant.

22. The claim of method 1 wherein said representative image modifying of step (f) includes replacing an icon representing a meeting participant with a personal image of said meeting participant in response to the chat event of converting a pair chat session to a multiple chat session, the conversion occurring by joining the participant to a pair chat session as an active participant as a result of the steps of: i) a participant soliciting a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be actively present in said pair chat session, active presence includes chatting with chat-partners of said pair chat session. ii) said participant getting a permission from the partners of a pair chat session to be actively present in said pair chat session; and iii) said participant joining the pair chat session as an active participant.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an electronic media content of a pair chat session by an agreed eavesdropping, wherein a chat event is determined according to at least one feature of the electronic media content.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least one of voice content and chat text of a pair chat session , wherein at least one of the chat events is determined by the presence of predetermined keywords and phrases in the at least one of voice content and chat text of a pair chat session.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing electronic media content of a voice pair chat session to determine at least one speech delivery feature and wherein at least one of the chat events is determined in accordance with at least one of the speech delivery features.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the determined speech delivery features include one or more of emotion feature, accent feature, speech speed feature, presence of laughter, voice tone feature, voice pitch, and mood feature.

27 A computerized dating system for facilitating computerized dating in accordance with user registration data, personal data and entrance data, the dating system comprising: (a) a matchmaker unit operative to: i) collect personal information about a plurality of individuals, the personal information including at least one personal characteristic selected from the group consisting of personality trait , personal appearance descriptor , educational history and recreation preferences; ii) designate a plurality of dating candidates for a group dating meeting, the dating candidates selected out of said plurality of individuals in accordance with an estimate of compatibility thereof to said group dating meeting in view of the collected personal information; iii)select four or more participants of said group dating meeting, the participants selected from said plurality of dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability; and iv) match multiple couples of chat-partners for simultaneous pair-chat sessions, the multiple couples of partners being selected out of said four or more participants of said group dating meeting; and (b) a group dating interface operative to:

(A) display a graphical meeting scene, the scene including a plurality of representative images, each said representative image representing a different respective participant of the meeting participants; and B) move or modify at least one said representative image of the displayed graphical meeting scene in response to one or more chat events of one or more of said simultaneous pair-chat sessions.

28. A graphical meeting scene module incorporated in a system for operation of a group dating meeting, the graphical meeting scene module comprising: a) a graphical meeting scene integrator; and b) one or more image libraries, each image library includes one or more representative images; and c) one or more meeting scene libraries , each meeting scene library including one or more meeting scene picture, each meeting scene picture having two or more place holders, the place holder being receivable of a representative image; wherein said meeting scene integrator loads a meeting scene picture from a meeting scene library, and loads one or more representative images from said one or more image libraries and install the representative images in one or more place holders, creating a meeting scene with representative images, and said meeting scene integrator causes a display of a meeting scene with representative images on a viewing device of a group dating meeting participant.

29. The graphical meeting scene module of claim 28 wherein the one or more image libraries includes a library of icons representing participants of said group dating meeting.

30. The graphical meeting scene module of claim 28 wherein the one or more image libraries include a library of personal images of participants of said group dating meeting.

31. A Graphic User Interface module at a personal viewing device of a participant of a group dating meeting during which a plurality of pair chat sessions is conducted, the GUI module comprising a meeting scene, the meeting scene including a plurality of representative images, each said representative image associated with a respective participant of said group dating meeting, said representative images being modified in response to one or more chat events.

32. A method for group dating comprising: a) collecting personal information about a plurality of individuals; b) designating a plurality of dating candidates for a group dating meeting, the dating candidates selected out of said plurality of individuals in accordance with a dating compatibility estimate determined according to the collected personal information; c) selecting four or more participants for said group dating meeting, the participants selected from said plurality of dating candidates in accordance with common time-slot availability; d) matching multiple couples of chat-partners for simultaneous pair-chat sessions, the multiple couples of partners being selected out of said four or more participants of said group dating meeting; e) displaying a graphical meeting scene, the scene including a plurality of representative images, each said representative image representing a different respective participant of the group dating meeting; and f) moving or modifying at least one said representative image of the displayed graphical meeting scene in response to one or more chat events of one or more of said simultaneous pair-chat sessions.