Suneet Wadhwa

US Patent:

20090094048, Apr 9, 2009

Filed:

Apr 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/098983

Inventors:

Karen Wallace - San Francisco CA, US
Suneet Wadhwa - San Francisco CA, US
Andrew Pickholtz - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

ENGAGE CORPORATION - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705 1

Abstract:

A system and method for facilitating an online collaborative community for individuals to meet each other, make suggestions to members in their network of other individuals as potential matches, and introduce members to each other. A number of features are provided that promote collaboration among members of the online community with regard to suggested matches of potentially compatible individuals. A first feature enables a user to initiate a multi-party discussion concerning suggested matches for particular individuals. The user has the ability to attach a profile of the suggested match to the discussion, which may be retrieved and viewed by the invited parties to the discussion. Invited parties may be non-members as well as members of the online community. A “social feed” is provided to a user to inform the user of activities happening on the site that are related to the user or any friends to whom he/she is connected. A points system is provided to award points to users for participation in various categories of activities and actions that promote the advancement of the introduction and matching network. Various games modules are provided to encourage matchmaking activities by enhancing the entertainment value of site participation. A scoreboard is also provided, which lists the top-scoring users of the site.

US Patent:

20060287878, Dec 21, 2006

Filed:

Jun 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/425390

Inventors:

Suneet Wadhwa - San Francisco CA, US
Andrew Pickholtz - San Francisco CA, US
Karen Wallace - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Engage Corporation - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00
G07G 1/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

705001000, 705010000

Abstract:

A system and method for facilitating an online collaborative community for individuals to meet each other with the assistance of third party intermediaries or matchmakers. The system provides the intermediaries with a variety of features to participate and collaborate in the process of identifying potentially compatible individuals and arranging for the introduction of those individuals. For example, the intermediaries can provide profile information about individual participants, search for potentially compatible individuals for others, or introduce individuals to each other. The introductions can be of individuals who are already participating or who are subsequently invited to participate. Introductions may also be anonymous. Other features include a rating or ranking of intermediaries based on the quality of their introductions, a polling feature whereby users are asked to vote on potential matches for certain participants, and a real time event feature whereby participants may chat, research information on other participants, and identify potential participants for introduction. Still other features of the system are described herein.