Social Matching System Using On-Demand Entity Identifiers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current social matching platforms are limited in matching individuals across the general population based on a multitude of attributes, lack flexibility and customization, fail to address privacy concerns, and do not enable dynamic user-initiated match requests, leading to stale user profiles and limited match outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A social matching method and system that uses entity identifiers associated with user profiles to perform on-demand match analyses, allowing users to control when and how matches are conducted, with features for maintaining privacy and enabling multiple modes of connectivity, using entity identifiers such as QR codes, audio, or biometric signatures to initiate and perform match analyses, and providing a match analysis output based on shared attributes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional social matching platforms use pre-defined attribute categories to match individuals, then matching within specific population subsets is achieved, but matching across the general population based on a plurality of attributes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematching scopeVSAvoidattribute category structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables matching across multiple population subsets and purposes by allowing users to create custom attribute categories and weights. The platform functions as a universal matching system that can adapt to different matching needs (friendship, dating, professional networking, etc.) without being constrained by pre-defined categories, thereby achieving versatility across the general population.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic creation and modification of attribute categories and their relative weights by users. Rather than using fixed pre-defined categories, users can adapt the attribute structure to their specific matching needs, making the system flexible and adaptable to different population subsets and matching purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If social matching platforms calculate affinity scores with threshold parameters, then match recommendations are generated, but detailed match analysis is not disclosed to users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematch generation efficiencyVSAvoidmatch analysis details

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides comprehensive feedback to users by disclosing detailed match analysis results. Users receive information about which attributes contributed to their match scores and how their profile compares to potential matches, enabling them to understand and evaluate the matching process rather than receiving opaque threshold-based recommendations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the match analysis into individual attribute contributions, allowing users to see how each attribute affects their overall match score. This breakdown provides transparent information about the matching process while maintaining efficient automated calculation of affinity scores.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If social matching platforms reveal user identities and full profiles, then connectivity between matched individuals is enabled, but privacy and anonymity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidprivacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system acts as an intermediary that enables connectivity between matched individuals without requiring full identity revelation. Users can communicate through the platform while maintaining privacy controls, allowing ease of operation for establishing connections while protecting users from harmful privacy exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Extent of automation

If social matching platforms use static batch service matching, then system automation is maintained, but dynamic user-initiated match requests are not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematch analysis executionVSAvoiduser control over matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static batch service matching to dynamic user-initiated matching. Users can trigger match analyses on-demand based on their current needs and context, while the system maintains automation in performing the actual match calculations. This dynamic approach enables users to control when matching occurs while preserving system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9589058B2Methods and systems for social matching

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 SAMEGRAIN

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for triggering a social match analysis. A user device such as a network connected device scans for one or more entity identifiers via camera, microphone, or wireless signal receiver and initiates a request to a social matching system. The social matching system retrieves attribute information for each of the identified entities and performs a match analysis, scoring the potential matches and noting common attributes. A match analysis report is generated and returned to the originating requesting user device.