US20110185410A1

US20110185410A1 - Method for personalized meeting and relationship establishing

Info

Publication number: US20110185410A1
Application number: US12/917,227
Authority: US
Inventors: Lori Cheek; Locke Raper; Charlie Kickham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-01
Filing date: 2010-11-01
Publication date: 2011-07-28
Also published as: US20120054053A1; US8543465B2

Abstract

A method for personal online/offline meeting comprising the steps of an initiator developing a profile/account with a central organization; the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a website designation and a code; the initiator giving a card to at least one recipient; the recipient going to the website designated on the card; the recipient entering the code at the designated website; the recipient being given access to the initiator's profile with the central organization; and the recipient sending the initiator a message through the designated website.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 61/257,035, filed on Nov. 1, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for initiating meeting and personal relationship establishment between people, and in particular to a method for initiating an online relationship with a personal offline introduction.

BACKGROUND

Meeting people, particularly without an intermediary for introduction, is difficult for many people. In order to meet new people, many people have turned to online dating services, such as those marketed under the registered trademarks EHARMONY and MATCH.COM. Both of these online dating services involve individuals providing an online dating profile and choosing people they want to contact by perusing others' profiles. Although many people succeed in their dating goals through such services, many do not, as the services have several drawbacks. Importantly, many customers of these services find the process overly impersonal as there is no personal meeting before the impersonal perusal of profiles. Moreover, many people are deceptive in their profiles by including very old pictures of themselves or lying about their age so that upon actual meeting, one party may be surprised or disappointed in the other, almost as though the disappointed party were the victim of false advertising. Such online dating services are a natural progression of the digital age and address many difficulties in dating, such as an initial level of anonymity from prospective daters and information provision about prospective daters that can add an element of personal safety to later meetings in person. However, such online dating service also effectively preclude the initial chemistry or spark, not to mention instantaneous physical assessment, that may occur even during the very briefest of personal interactions that precede traditional or “old fashioned” dating. This preclusion leads to the problems such as those discussed above. Therefore there is a need for an online dating service that incorporates the traditional first step of an in person meeting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a method for initiating meeting and personal relationship establishment between people.
In its most basic form the method of the present invention includes the following steps: an initiator signing up with a central organization; the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number; the initiator distributing at least one card to at least one recipient; the recipient navigating the internet using the online contact information designated on the card; the recipient submitting the identification number printed on the card; the central organization giving the recipient access to an initiator-specific profile; and optionally the recipient sending the initiator a message. All steps of the method, therefore, are performed by an initiator, a central organization, and/or a recipient.
The first step of an initiator signing up with a central organization preferably includes the following sub-steps: the initiator navigating to a designated website, preferably www.cheekd.com; the initiator choosing an option to “join,” which is provided on the designated website; the initiator providing information, including a valid email address, a password, a code to validate or confirm that the initiator is a human and not a machine, billing information, shipping address, and personal profile information; the central organization storing the information in an initiator-specific profile; the central organization approving a purchase; the central organization activating the initiator's profile; and the central organization assigning a unique alphanumeric identification number to the initiator's profile from a list of pre-generated alphanumeric identification numbers.
The second step of the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number includes printing at least one card and sending the card or cards to the initiator. As referred to herein, the “pickup line” printed on the card is a line of text that includes any of several short, cute or flirtatious phrases, such as “Act natural. We can get awkward later.”, “Don't overthink this.”, or “Emotionally available.” The pickup line is a written substitute for an opening oral remark that someone might make to a stranger that he wants to meet. The text in the pickup line itself is not a trademark or slogan of the central organization. The use and appearance of such pickup lines on a card as described in the method of the present invention may ultimately act as a designation of source for the central organization, but the pickup lines or phrases themselves are not. The online contact information is preferably a website URL, preferably www.cheekd.com. The identification number is unique and is preferably included on every card in a deck of cards.
The third step of the initiator distributing at least one card to at least one recipient preferably includes the steps of meeting the recipient in person and physically handing the card to the recipient.
The fourth step of the recipient navigating the internet using the online contact information designated on the card includes the steps of the recipient navigating to the website URL designated on the card, and being provided instructions via the designated website that prompt the recipient to enter the identification number from the card.
The fifth step is the recipient entering the identification number at the designated website as prompted by the website.
The sixth step is the central organization giving the recipient access to the initiator-specific profile. In some embodiments, this step also entails the central organization permitting the recipient's searching of other profiles stored by the central organization.
The seventh optional step of the recipient sending the initiator a message occurs through the designated website and only occurs if the recipient wishes to contact the initiator. This step preferably includes the steps of composing a message, logging in, and sending a message to the initiator through the designated website. The step of logging in preferably includes the step of the recipient supplying the central organization with an email address and password via the designated website. In a preferred embodiment, this step also entails the central organization masking the initiator's email address from the recipient so that the initiator's email address is not visible to the recipient at this point. If the seventh step occurs, in some embodiments, the method of the present invention includes an eighth step of the initiator responding to the recipient through the designated website.
Therefore it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method for an online dating service that includes traditional, in person features.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a method that may include an initial personal meeting with a personalized meeting procedure and subsequent online individualized contact.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a method wherein an initiator maintains security and control over his contact information.
These aspects of the present invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, accompanying drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the steps of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the substeps of the first step of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the substeps of the seventh step of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a depiction of one side of a preferred card as used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a depiction of the other side of a preferred card as used in the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, in its most basic form, the method 10 of the present invention includes the following steps: an initiator signing up with a central organization 12; the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number 14; the initiator distributing at least one card to at least one recipient 16; the recipient navigating the internet using the online contact information designated on the card 18; the recipient submitting the identification number printed on the card 20; the central organization giving the recipient access to an initiator-specific profile 22; optionally the recipient sending the initiator a message 24; and the central organization billing the initiator 28. All steps of method 10, therefore, are performed by an initiator, a central organization, and/or a recipient.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the first step of an initiator signing up with a central organization 12 preferably includes the following sub-steps: the initiator navigating to a designated website 36, preferably www.cheekd.com; the initiator choosing an option to “join” 38, which is provided on the designated website; the initiator providing information 40, including a valid email address, a password, a code to validate or confirm that the initiator is a human and not a machine, billing information, shipping address, and personal profile information; the central organization storing the information in an initiator-specific profile 41; the central organization approving a purchase 42; the central organization activating the initiator's profile 44; and the central organization assigning a unique alphanumeric identification number to the initiator's profile 45. The step of the central organization storing the information 41 occurs when the central organization accepts the information submitted by the initiator. The step of the central organization activating the initiator's profile 44 entails the initiator becoming a client of the central organization and the profile becoming visible online to those who have access.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the second step of the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number 14 includes the steps of printing at least one card 46 and sending the card or cards to the initiator 48. The online contact information is preferably a website URL, preferably www.cheekd.com. The printing 46 and sending 48 is preferably of decks of cards with identical or corresponding identification numbers, rather than of single cards. The sending 48 may be through the U.S. postal service, through another mail service, such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL, by courier, or by any other delivery service commonly used in the art. The cards preferably also include the central organization's logo, in addition to the pickup line, online contact information, and identification number.
The third step of the initiator distributing at least one card to at least one recipient 16 preferably includes the steps of meeting the recipient in person and physically handing the card to the recipient.
The fourth step of the recipient navigating the internet using the online contact information designated on the card 18 includes the steps of the recipient navigating to the website URL designated on the card, and being provided instructions via the designated website that prompt the recipient to enter the identification number from the card.
The fifth step is the recipient entering the identification number at the designated website 20 as prompted by the website.
The sixth step is the central organization giving the recipient access to the initiator-specific profile 22. In some embodiments, this step also entails the central organization permitting the recipient's searching of other profiles 23 stored by the central organization.
Now referring to FIG. 3, the seventh optional step of the recipient sending the initiator a message 24 occurs through the designated website and only occurs if the recipient wishes to contact the initiator. This step preferably includes the steps of the recipient composing a message 58, the recipient hitting “send” 59, the recipient logging in 56, and the message being sent to the recipient 60. The step of logging in 56 entails the recipient supplying the central organization with an email address and password 61 via the designated website. If the recipient is logging in for the first time, the step also includes the recipient supplying password confirmation and a code to validate that the initiator is a human and not a machine 63. In a preferred embodiment, this step also includes the central organization masking the initiator's email address 57 from the recipient so that the initiator's email address is not visible to the recipient at this point. Despite the masking of the initiator's email address from the recipient, in a preferred embodiment, the message sent by the recipient is sent to the email address provided by the initiator, in addition to the initiator's profile/account accessible by logging into the profile account.
Referring again to FIG. 1, if the seventh step occurs, method 10 of the present invention preferably also includes an optional eighth step of the initiator responding to the recipient through the designated website 26. Again, in a preferred embodiment, this step also includes the central organization masking the initiator's email address 55 from the recipient so that the initiator's email address is not visible to the recipient. In no step of method 10 is the recipient provided with a means to contact the initiator other than by messaging through the designated website. The initiator may choose to provide the recipient with his information by including such information in a message sent through the designated website, but this is not a step of method 10 of the present invention.
The step of the central organization billing the initiator 28 entails the central organization using the billing information provided by the initiator during the first step 12 in method 10 to bill the initiator, preferably monthly, for the services provided by the central organization and the initiator paying the bill. If the initiator does not pay the bill, the step also entails deactivating the initiator's profile/account so that neither the initiator nor recipients of the initiator's cards have access to the initiator's profile/account 70, storing the initiator's inactive profile/account 72, and reactivating the initiator's inactive profile/account 74 if and when the initiator pays the bill and/or a reactivation fee.
Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, both sides of a preferred card 200 as used in method 10 of the present invention are shown. Card 200 is depicted with dimensions proportional to an actual card, but the depiction may not be actual size. The actual size and dimensions of card 200 are roughly those of a standard business card. FIG. 4A shows first side 202 of card 200, bearing logo 206 of the central organization. FIG. 4B shows second side 204 of card 200, bearing pickup line 208, identification number 210, and online contact information, which is URL 212. In practice, an initiator will personally present card 200 to a recipient. The recipient may go to website URL 212 and enter identification number 210 to see the initiator's profile and potentially send the initiator a message.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the description should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A method for personal meeting comprising the steps of:

an initiator signing up with a central organization;

the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number;

the initiator distributing at least one card to at least one recipient;

the recipient navigating the internet using the online contact information designated on the card;

the recipient submitting the identification number printed on the card; and

the central organization giving the recipient access to an initiator-specific profile.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of the recipient sending the initiator a message.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of the initiator sending the recipient a message.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of an initiator signing up with a central organization comprises the steps of:

the initiator navigating to a designated website;

the initiator choosing to join the central organization through the designated website;

the initiator providing information to the central organization through the designated website;

the central organization storing the information in an initiator-specific profile;

the central organization approving a purchase;

the central organization activating the initiator's profile; and

the central organization assigning a unique identification number to the initiator's profile.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of the initiator providing information to the central organization through the designated website comprises the initiator providing:

a valid email address;

a password;

a confirmation of the password;

a code that validates that the initiator is a human and not a machine;

billing information;

a shipping address; and

answers to profile questions provided by the central organization.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of the central organization providing the initiator with a number of cards on which are printed at least a pickup line, online contact information, and an identification number comprises the steps of:

printing the cards; and

sending the cards.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of printing the cards comprises printing a deck of cards on each of which is printed the same identification number.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of the recipient sending the initiator a message comprises the steps of:

composing the message;

hitting send;

logging in; and

sending the message.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of logging in comprises the step of the recipient providing a valid email address and password.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of logging in further comprises the step of the recipient providing a confirmation of the password and a code that validates that the recipient is a human and not a machine.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of the central organization masking an email address of the initiator from the recipient.

12. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of the central organization masking an email address of the initiator from the recipient.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of the central organization billing the initiator.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of the central organization deactivating the initiator's profile.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of the central organization storing the initiator's deactivated profile.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the step of the central organization reactivating the initiator's deactivated profile.