Virtual Lobby for Social Matching via Pre-Selected Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Social networking applications lack effective methods for users to efficiently match and communicate with potential partners or professionals, particularly in environments that facilitate real-time interactions and interest-based connections.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a virtual lobby system within social networking applications that offers functions such as speed dating audio, singles evening, and live streaming, allowing users to interact and match based on shared characteristics, interests, and preferences through audio and video communications, with features like whisper messaging and vote-to-match mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional matchmaking methods are used, then users can connect with potential matches, but the matching process is inefficient and lacks real-time interaction capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematching efficiencyVSAvoidtime to establish connections

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-selects and prepares groups of users with compatible characteristics before they enter the virtual lobby, so that when users arrive, matching can occur immediately through real-time interactions rather than requiring time-consuming profile browsing and manual matching requests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual lobby acts as an intermediary environment that facilitates real-time interactions between pre-selected compatible users through various communication modes (audio, video, chat), enabling efficient matching without direct one-on-one profile review processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple communication functions are provided in the virtual lobby, then user interaction quality improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual lobby is designed as a universal platform that integrates multiple communication functions (audio speed dating, video interactions, chat messaging, reaction features) within a single environment, allowing users to access diverse interaction modes without requiring separate systems for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication functions are segmented into distinct modular features (audio channels, video streams, chat systems, reaction mechanisms) that can be independently managed and activated, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If real-time audio and video communications are enabled, then user compatibility verification improves, but computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematch qualityVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Users are pre-selected based on profile compatibility criteria before entering the virtual lobby, ensuring that real-time communications occur only between potentially compatible matches, thereby reducing the total number of communication sessions required and lowering overall computational resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements time-limited interaction sessions with automatic transitions between different communication modes (e.g., audio speed dating rounds followed by video introductions), allowing periodic assessment of compatibility while managing resource usage through structured, finite interaction periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20230121307A1Virtual lobby for social experiences

Publication Date: 2023.04.20 BUMBLE IP HOLDCO LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for enabling a virtual lobby. In some implementations, a server receives a request from a first client device to enter a function of a virtual lobby. The server generates a pre-selected number of users to include in the function of the virtual lobby based on a plurality of client devices that opted into the function. The server provides data to each of the pre-selected number of users to indicate an acceptance into the function. The server generates a first communication channel between the first client device and a second client device, wherein the communication channel ensures other users cannot access communications between the first and the second client device. In response to closing the first communication channel, the server generates a second communication channel between the first and the second client device outside the virtual lobby.