Match limits for dating application
AssigneeSidekick Dating, Inc.
InventorMichael Robert De Lazzari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One issue with many dating applications is that the number of matches can become overwhelming, making it difficult for a user to continue to communicate meaningfully with those individuals with whom they have been matched. According to various techniques described herein, a limit can be placed on the number of active matches (or conversations) for each user, and the user's profile may be temporarily hidden from view of other individuals when this limit has been reached. Such a condition is referred to as “saturation.” Once the user unmatches one or more individuals, so that they are no longer at the maximum, their profile may again be made available and therefore visible to other individuals.
Claims24
A computer-implemented method for limiting matches between users in a networked environment, the method comprising, at a first network-connected hardware processing device:
- determining whether a first user has reached a limit of concurrent matches, wherein each match represents a bidirectional connection between the first user and another user;
- responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, making the first user visible to other users;
- responsive to the first user having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, making the first user invisible to other users;
- receiving input from the first user requesting that a unidirectional indication of interest in a second user be transmitted;
- responsive to the first user having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, declining the request to transmit the unidirectional indication of interest;
- and
- responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, transmitting the unidirectional indication of interest.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium for limiting matches between users in a networked environment, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when performed by a first network-connected hardware processing device, perform the steps of:
- determining whether a first user has reached a limit of concurrent matches, wherein each match represents a bidirectional connection between the first user and another user;
- responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, making the first user visible to other users;
- responsive to the first user having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, making the first user invisible to other users;
- causing an input device to receive input from the first user requesting that a unidirectional indication of interest in a second user be transmitted;
- responsive to the first user having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, declining the request to transmit the unidirectional indication of interest;
- and
- responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, transmitting the unidirectional indication of interest.
A system for limiting matches between users in a networked environment, comprising, in a first network-connected device operated by a first user:
- an input device, configured to receive input from the first user requesting that a unidirectional indication of interest in a second user be transmitted;
- a processor, communicatively coupled to the input device, configured to:
- determine whether the first user has reached a limit of concurrent matches, wherein each match represents a bidirectional connection between the first user and another user;
- responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, make the first user visible to other users;
- responsive to the first user having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections:
- make the first user invisible to other users;
- and
- decline the request to transmit the unidirectional indication of interest;
- and
- a network communication component, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to, responsive to the first user not having reached the limit of concurrent matches representing bidirectional connections, transmit the unidirectional indication of interest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.