Platform for pseudo-anonymous video chat with intelligent matching of chat partners

An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;
• wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising:
• providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;
• generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile;
• providing a second interface for said user to select and initiate a video call to a chat partner on said list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners;
• establishing a video chat between said user and said chat partner if said chat partner accepts said video call;
• providing a third interface for said user and said chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles while said video chat session is in progress;
• and
• providing a fourth interface for said user and said chat partner to rate each other during said video chat session and/or after said video chat session.

A computer-implemented method of managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

• providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;
• generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said pseudo-anonymous chat partners are not on said user's contact list;
• providing a second interface for said user to create and/or modify a contact list, said contact list including one or more said pseudo-anonymous chat partners that said user has given a favorable rating in the past;
• and
• providing a third interface for said user to prioritize incoming calls from contacts on said contact list and pseudo-anonymous chat partners not on said contact list.

An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;
• wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising:
• providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;
• generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said pseudo-anonymous chat partners are not on said user's contact list;
• providing a second interface for said user to create and/or modify a contact list, said contact list including one or more said pseudo-anonymous chat partners that said user has given a favorable rating in the past;
• and
• providing a third interface for said user to prioritize incoming calls from contacts on said contact list and pseudo-anonymous chat partners not on said contact list.

A computer-implemented method of sharing digital content in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

• providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;
• generating a list of potential chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said potential chat partners are not on said user's contact list;
• providing a second interface for a user to share video(s) with a chat partner on said list of potential chat partners, and view video(s) from said chat partner while a video chat session between said user and said chat partner is in progress;
• and
• providing a third interface for said user to rate video(s) shared by other users, and create a library with video(s) that said user has given a favorable rating and/or shared with other users in the past.

An apparatus for managing video chats in a social network, said network having a plurality of users, comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• instructions encoded in one or more computer readable media;
• wherein said instructions when executed in a platform featuring said one or more processors, cause said platform to perform operations comprising:
• providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile, said first interface configured to allow said user to modify and/or add to said user profile;
• generating a list of potential chat partners from said plurality of users according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of said user profile, wherein said potential chat partners are not on said user's contact list;
• providing a second interface for a user to share video(s) with a chat partner on said list of potential chat partners, and view video(s) from said chat partner while a video chat session between said user and said chat partner is in progress;
• and
• providing a third interface for said user to rate video(s) shared by other users, and create a library with video(s) that said user has given a favorable rating and/or shared with other users in the past.