Dynamically Matching Users for Group Communication Based on a Threshold Degree of Matching of Sender and Recipient Predetermined Acceptance Criteria

Filed: April 25, 2000
Priority Date: September 15, 1998
See patent at USPTO site

Abstract: A method for users to exchange group electronic mail by establishing individual profiles and criteria for determining personalized subsets within a group. Users establish subscriptions to an electronic mailing list by specifying user profile data and acceptance criteria data to screen other users. When a user subscribes, a web server establishes and stores an individualized recipient list including each matching subscriber and their degree of one-way or mutual match with the user. When the user then sends a message to the mailing list, an email server retrieves her 100% matches and then optionally filters her recipient list down to a message distribution list using each recipient's message criteria. The message is then distributed to matching users.

Additionally, email archives and information contributions from users are stored in a database. A web server creates an individualized set of web pages for a user from the database, containing contributions only from users in his recipient list. In other embodiments, users apply one-way or mutual criteria matching and message profile criteria to other group forums, such as web-based discussion boards, chat, online clubs, USENET newsgroups, voicemail, instant messaging, web browsing side channel communities, and online gaming rendezvous.

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