WO2001037232A1

WO2001037232A1 - Method and apparatus for communication of affection

Info

Publication number: WO2001037232A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Pfeil
Original assignee: Who Loves Who.Com Ag
Priority date: 1999-11-13
Filing date: 2000-11-01
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: AU1046001A

Abstract

A web site on the Internet provides matchmaking services between two people who know each other, know of each other or met each other in a situation that can be described in sufficient detail to facilitate a match. The web site provides a method and apparatus for communicating affection between two people who have previously met. If authorized by one of the two people, an anonymous (secret) email is sent to the other person, informing that other person that he or she is someone's Secret Love. In the event of a successful match, both persons are informed by email or can check an area of the web site where Love Matches are posted.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATION OF AFFECTION

Field of the invention

The present invention is related to systems and methods for finding a match between two people who are likely to have affection for each other. In particular, the present invention is related to systems and methods for making a Love Match between two people who want to be romantically involved with another person.

Background of the invention

Dating services and human matchmakers are known. In prior art computerized dating services, a computer compares the stated interests and backgrounds of many candidates to find a match between two people who are likely to be compatible .

Dating services arrange contact between people who did not know each other previously. Video dating services, in which each candidate submits a video of himself or herself, are known. All candidates review their own video and each candidate has an opportunity to view the video of the other person before accepting a first date.

However, accurate identification of shared leisure interests and backgrounds is doubtful, and not always useful in making a match. Up to now, dating services have arranged for contact between strangers.

Summary of the invention

The general goal of the invented system is to bring people together by finding a Love Match between two people who have already seen (met or otherwise know of) each other, and who are already attracted to each other. Because each person already has certain feelings for the other person, or because each person finds the other person attractive, both persons want to get in contact with the other person. As used herein, the following terms shall be defined as given below:

"WhoLovesWho.com^ΞM" and "http://www.WhoLovesWho.com" mean the URL of a web site on the Internet and the web server at such web site, that provides a service of finding matches between people who have some knowledge of each other and who want to be romantically involved. The web site contains a web server programmed on a digital computer (a data processor) containing a computer memory. WhoLovesWho and WhoLovesWho.com are also used herein as alternate shorthand terms for a programmed digital computer coupled to a communication system that provides for the communication of affection between individuals, in accordance with the present invention.

A "user" is someone taking part via the Internet at WhoLovesWho.com to find a Love Match.

A "Secret Love" is another person to whom a User is attracted, or has affection for, or secretly loves. A Secret Love does not yet know about the first user's feelings towards the Secret Love. A Love Person is same as a Secret Love .

A "Love Match" is a match between two Love Persons both of who were looking for each other and found each other though the WhoLovesWho.com system web site .

A match between two persons is achieved without the risk of rejection because the present system provides information about a match Love Match only if both persons indicate an interest in each other. That is, a Love Match is made only if each person would like to get in contact with the other person. If only one person would like to get in contact with the other person, i.e., if only person indicates an interest, then no information will be given to the other person. However, if authorized by one of the two persons, an anonymous (secret) email is sent to the other person, informing that other person that he or she is someone's Secret Love. In addition, each person can indicate more than one Love Person.

Over time, the love interests of a person may change. Changes in feelings and attractions over time are reflected by changes to the list of Love Persons .

By use of the present invention, two people can secretly find out if there is a love interest on the part of the other person without the risk of being turned down or rejected by the other person. The present invention permits a person to check whether there is a reciprocal love interest by other people they already know, such as friends, people at work, people they have met or seen somewhere (even once) , and people with whom they already have a regular relationship.

As indicated, the present system brings together people who already know each other, or know of each other in some way. It is far more likely that each person will develop deeper feelings for the other person if each has some prior contact with the other person, as compared to being introduced as part of a match to a complete stranger.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is an overall configuration of a system for communication of affection over the Internet in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is diagram of a web site server illustrating the search logic performed by a computer processor for finding a Love Match in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a Web page for new users and registered users to log into the WhoLovesWho.com web site in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a Web page for entering the personal information of registered users, and for entering identification data of Love Persons m the Known- Persons and WhoLovesWho code search categories by registered users m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a Web page for entering the personal information of registered users, and for entering identification data of Love Persons m the Driver- Seek search category by registered users m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a Web page for entering the personal information of registered users, and for entering identification data of Love Persons in the Saw/Met- you search category by registered users m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7A is a Web page for explaining the philosophy of the present system for communication of affection between registered users m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7B is a Web page explaining the steps used by a user for communication of affection between registered users in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a Web page displaying the Love Match status area for identifying Love Persons and search requests previously entered by registered users m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a Web page illustrating the authorization by the user to send an anonymous (secret) email to the other person, informing that other person that he or she is someone's Secret Love.

Detailed description

A system n accordance with the present invention is shown m figure 1. Tom, at his computer 12 contacts the Love Match web site 16 through the public Internet 10. Separately, Cindy, at her computer 14 contacts the Love Match web site 16 through the public Internet 10. If the computer at the Love Match web site 16 makes a Love Match, then an email is sent to both Tom and Cindy to inform them that a Love Match for each of them has been made. A Love Match web site 16, which may be used to implement the present invention, is called WhoLovesWho.com.

Figure 2 illustrates how the WhoLovesWho web site achieves a Love Match between Tom and Cindy. Tom has liked Cindy for some time, but he did not have the courage to tell her about his feelings. Tom logs on (figure 3) to the WhoLovesWho web site and enters 210 Cindy as a Love Person (figure 4) . To identify Cindy, Tom enters her name, City, State, gender and perhaps her unique WhoLovesWho code, if known. The data entered about Cindy is kept as a record 214 in the database of the main computer memory 216 at the WhoLovesWho.com web site (figure 2) .

Tom also enters his own personal information m figure 4. Generally, Tom can expect to pay for listing a Love Person and requesting a search The WhoLovesWho database stores the information about Cindy for a certain period of time, say 6 months. In the alternative, the web site may be supported by advertising, which may reduce or eliminate listing and search fees. As shown m figure 8, registered users may verify, delete or add to their listed Love Persons.

Tom selects one or more searches from the four search categories of Known- Persons, Driver-Seek, WhoLovesWho-Code code search or Saw/Met-you search categories. Searches are performed immediately after any new Love Person data is entered or changed.

Cindy likes Tom very much, but same as Tom, she does not have the courage to tell him because she too fears a possible rejection. Some days later Cindy, knowing about (or learning about) the WhoLovesWho web site (perhaps through an anonymous email authorized by Tom) , thinks that she would like to find out if Tom is interested in her. She also may pay to enter 218 Tom as a Love Person 220 on the WhoLovesWho web site (figure 2) and request a search. The computer processor 222 at the WhoLovesWho web site compares the two contact wishes (stored data input records) and finds a Love Match because both Tom and Cindy have input 210, 218 each other as Love Persons 214, 220. Reciprocal data records 214, 220 indicate that they both would like to contact each other.

Cindy and Tom both receive an email from WhoLovesWho that tells them that a Love Match has been made. The initial email may tell them to check the registered user area of the WhoLovesWho web site. At the registered user area, users must provide their name and their user password before they receive any Love Match information. In the alternative, the initial email to Cindy and Tom may inform them immediately of the Love Match. Each can then double-check their good fortune by going to the registered user area of WhoLovesWho.com.

Tom has chosen Cindy as a Love Person and Cindy has chosen Tom as a Love Person. The WhoLovesWho web site makes a Love Match by

1) finding Tom 220 in Cindy's list of Love Persons, and at the same time,

2) finding Cindy 214 in Tom's list of Love Persons. There is a Love Match for Tom and Cindy.

A Love Match may not always be made immediately, but can be made anytime during the listing period, i.e., up to 6 months after the listing is first entered. Once a Love Match is made, the WhoLovesWho web site provides both Cindy and Tom with the email address of their Love Match, so that they can contact each other. For making a Love Match, the WhoLovesWho web site may levy a success fee. The Love Match fee may be paid by both Cindy and Tom, or by one of them. In the alternative, advertising may completely support the web site eliminating the Love Match success fee.

It is important to note that only if both Cindy and Tom list each other as Love Persons, that a Love Match will be made. The WhoLovesWho web site gives out no other information. The WhoLovesWho web site is secured so that no one can check other people's listed Love Persons or their personal data.

If a Love Match has not been made, the WhoLovesWho has no Love Match to report to the registered user. After the listing period (say 6 months) the listing of a Love Person will expire. Listed Love Persons are stored in a database in computer memory for 6 months or as long as the listing is active. The WhoLovesWho web site may alert the user by email that a Love Person listing is about to expire. Registered users are able to extend the listing of a Love Person listed in the WhoLovesWho system database. At any time, a registered user may change his or her mind about a Love Person and return to the WhoLovesWho web site and enter the changes.

Users perform several steps to use the services of the WhoLovesWho Web server system. First, each user registers their personal data for identification purposes. Typical data include their first name, last name, login name user created password, email address, city and/or state of residence, automobile license plate (car number) , payment information (credit card) and authentication data to authenticate the claimed identity of the user. Each user then provides some information about one or more Love Persons. The minimum information about each Love Person may include direct and indirect information. Examples of direct information include first and last name, city and/or state and gender. Indirect information includes car license plate, location and time of meeting and personal appearance description. There must be sufficient direct and indirect identification information to uniquely identify a Love Person The WhoLovesWho system will inform the user when there is not enough direct or indirect information to uniquely identify a Love Person.

The following examples indicate how the WhoLovesWho web site can be used to perform the service of finding the best Love.

A. Someone saw a beautiful girl or boy m a car beside or at the gas station. He can go to the World Wide Web, provide data about the Love Person wait to find out if the one he saw at the gas station perhaps found him attractive as well.

B. John is married to Jane. Thomas is going together with Tina. Tina gets to know John at a party. John and Tina talk and find each other very attractive. But as Tina knows that John is married, she won't tell him about her feelings. John feels the same restrictions, and he won't tell Tina about his feelings.

But, by using the services of the WhoLovesWho Web server, they can find out about each other's feelings. John and Tina each go home and log on to WhoLovesWho.com. Both provide data about themselves and about the other person as a Secret Love. In such manner, each can find out if there is Love returned by the other person. No one knows who else is registered the system or who is listed as a Secret Love m the system. But, m case of a Love Match between John and Tina, WhoLovesWho will inform both of them by an email. Both John and Tina can also check the WhoLovesWho web site registered area, login using their respective password and see if WhoLovesWho has made a Love Match between them. The WhoLovesWho system gives John and Tina Love Match information at the same time and gives them WO 01/37232 ~^9~ PCT/IBO0/01582

both the email address of the other one. Now that they can contact each other, the service of the WhoLovesWho Web server is complete.

C. Jane and Lee know each other for a long time. Both feel love for each other but are to shy to tell the other because they fear the rejection of being turned down. By using the match making services of the WhoLovesWho Web server, Jane and Lee could both realize happiness. They can let their feelings be known through the WhoLovesWho Web server, and can find out if the other person feels the same way, without fear of rejection.

STRUCTURE OF WHOLOVESWHO

In the general WhoLovesWho structure, the user carries out several steps. First, the user provides personal data such as a credit card number, an email address and the like. The user then provides information about the Loved person (s) and requests a love search. For each Love Person entered, or search requested, a fee may be charged. During the time that the listing of a Love Person is active, the user (whose personal data is also stored in computer memory) waits to be contacted by the WhoLovesWho system web site as soon as there is a Love Match. Each user carries out the following steps :

STEP 1: LOGIN

STEP 2 : SELECT ONE OR SEVERAL SEARCH CATEGORIES

STEP 3 : PAY FOR SEARCH SERVICES

STEP 4: WAIT FOR A LOVE MATCH

LOGIN

NEW USERS: In the login sequence, the new user becomes a registered user by providing the following information about himself/herself :

first name last name email address gender city state country

The first time a new user logs on to the WhoLovesWho web site, the user selects a desired login password. In subsequent sessions, the user is required to enter the previously selected login password in order to gain access to the web site. Also in the first session, the WhoLovesWho.com web server assigns the new user a personal WhoLovesWho code. The assigned personal WhoLovesWho code is used in conjunction with a particular category of search as discussed below.

REGISTERED USERS: Users who have previously registered with the WhoLovesWho.com web server, are required to enter the following information correctly.

first name last name login password

ALTERNATE REGISTERED USER LOGIN: A registered user may also login by the use of his/her previously assigned unique WhoLovesWho code as follows:

WhoLovesWho code login password

SELECTING A SEARCH CATEGORY

After login, the user enters information relating to a Secret Love. The user then has the option of selecting between 4 different categories of searches in order to find a Love Match with his/her Secret Love. Each search category has separate search logic described in further detail below.

1. KNOWN-PERSONS SEARCH: The Known-Persons search category is where the user already knows the identity of his/her Secret Love, and wants to find out if his/her Secret Love shares the same feelings in return.

2. DRIVER-SEEK SEARCH: In the Driver-Seek search category, the user is attracted to someone he/she has seen in a car or near a car, and the user thinks (or has reason to believe) that the other person (his/her Secret Love) regularly uses and/or owns that particular car. In such case, the user may observe the make, model, year and license plate registered to or used by his/her Secret Love.

3. WHOLOVESWHO CODE SEARCH: As indicated above, a WhoLovesWho code is assigned to each user. The assigned WhoLovesWho code is unique to each registered user. When prominently displayed on tee shirts, jackets, buttons, or any other personal object, the WhoLovesWho code is visible to others for identification purposes. The WhoLovesWho code search category is typically used when the user is attracted to some he/she sees wearing the unique WhoLovesWho code.

4. SAW/MET-YOU SEARCH: In the Saw/Met-you search category, the user is attracted to someone he/she met or saw in a certain situation (and at a specific location) that can be described. The user may not know the name of the other person or what car they drive, but the user can give a certain description of the encounter and the person he/she met or saw. The Saw/Met- you search category is very useful in those special and rare situations where two people both experience "love at first sight".

PAYMENT FOR SEARCH SERVICES Both users typically pay for each search, m each search category, according to a rate schedule In the case of a Love Match where a success fee is levied, the success fee is charged using previously supplied credit card payment information only if a love search is successful.

WAITING FOR A LOVE MATCH

After payment of search fees, the user may receive a Love Match immediately. If there is no immediate Love Match, the user will be informed later by email from WhoLovesWho.com about a possible future Love Match resulting from a Love Match search request that was later made one of the user's Love Persons. At any time, the user can check the Love Match status area at the WhoLovesWho com web site. Each time a Secret Love is entered by a user, the WhoLovesWho web server searches the database for a Love Match using one or more varieties of search logic according to each category of search specified by the user.

SEARCH LOGIC for finding a Love Match m the Known-Persons, Driver-Seek and WhoLovesWho code search categories :

The five following basic conditions must be fulfilled in order to find a Love Match m the Known-Persons, Driver-Seek and WhoLovesWho code search categories. The data match logic for each condition depends on the specific search category selected.

Condition 1 : Personal Description by User A

User A must correctly specify himself/herself and his/her Secret Love, User

B

Condition 2 : Personal Description by User B

User B must correctly specify himself/herself and his/her Secret Love, User

A Condition 3. Exact data match

All matching information of both user A and user B must be 100% correct. Words, numbers or data that are similar but do not exactly match, will not result in a Love Match. The WhoLovesWho.com web server searches the database for data records with exactly the same 2 persons, but with the personal data entered m a reciprocal relationship, resulting m a Love Match for those two persons as indicated below:

RECORD 1 : RECORD 2 :

USER A USER B

LIKES/LOVES LIKES/LOVES

USER B USER A

Condition 4 : Search request

User A and user B must request a Love Search and specify information about the other User (their Secret Love) for some overlapping time period within the period for a Love Search. For example, assume that the requested Love Search for user A is for a period of 6 months and the requested Love Search for user B is for a period of 1 year. Then, m order to satisfy this condition, the periods of the Love Search for user A and user B must overlap for at least 1 day and up to a maximum of 6 months.

Condition 5 : User authentication

User A and B must identify themselves correctly by their own personal credit card and pay for each search at WhoLovesWho.com. In order to prevent misuse of the WhoLovesWho Web server, each user must authenticate their identity. User authentication may consist of a facsimile of a passport or other picture identification. Any suitable digital authentication system, such as a digital signature and the like may be used.

DATA MATCH LOGIC. Known-Persons search

User A must specify himself/herself and specify User B correctly by the following data, which are required for a successful Love Match.

first name last name gender city or state country

A Love Match will result if all 5 of the above WhoLovesWho.com Match Logic conditions match exactly. An example of a successful Known-Persons Love Match is shown below.

User A information (Tom Miller) :

User A data User A's Secret Love First Name Tom Cindy

Last Name Miller Smith

Gender male female

State California Arizona

Country United States United States

User B Information (Cindy Smith) :

User B data User B's Secret Love First Name Cindy Tom

Last Name Smith Miller

Gender female male

State Arizona California

Country United States United States

The result is a successful Known-Persons search and a Love Match for Cindy Smith and Tom Miller. DATA MATCH LOGIC: Driver-Seek search

User A must specify himself/herself and specify user B correctly by the following data items, which are required for a successful Driver-Seek Love Match:

Car license plate number gender

A Love Match will result if both of the above Match Logic conditions match exactly. An example of a successful Drive-Seek is shown below.

User A:

User A data User A's Secret Love

Car license plate number: AMHAR1 CALIF- 99 gender: male female

User B:

User B data User B ' s Secret Love

Car license plate number: CALIF99 AMHARl gender : female male

The result is a successful Driver-Seek search and a Love Match for the drivers of the two cars .

DATA MATCH LOGIC : WhoLovesWho code search

User A must specify himself/herself and specify User B correctly by only one item of data, which is required for a successful Love Match. A Love Match will result if the reciprocal WhoLovesWho codes match exactly. An example of a successful WhoLovesWho code match is shown below. User A:

User A data User A's Secret Love WhoLovesWho code 12000 900

User B:

User B data User B's Secret Love WhoLovesWho code 900 12000

The above search results in a successful WhoLovesWho code match for the individuals identified by WhoLovesWho code 12000 and WhoLovesWho code 900.

SEARCH LOGIC for finding a Love Match in the Saw/Met-you search category:

Five basic conditions and corresponding data match logic must be fulfilled in order to get a Love Match in the search category of Saw/Met-you. The conditions and data match logic for the Saw/Met-you search category are given below:

Condition 1: Situation

User A and B must describe the same or similar description of the situation, including the location:

Condition 2 : Gender

Both user A and user B must indicate matching genders. Each must correctly describe their own gender and the gender of their Secret Love.

Condition 3 : Personal descriptions of each other

The general personal description of each user and other person must match to a certain extent. Typically, the available range of personal descriptions will be in the form of multiple choice selections on a pull down menu system. Condition 4: Search request

User A and user B must request a Love Search and specify information about the other User (their Secret Love) for some overlapping time period within the period for a Love Search.

Condition 5 : User authentication

User A and B must identify themselves correctly by their own personal credit card and pay for each search at WhoLovesWho.com. In order to prevent misuse of the WhoLovesWho Web server, each user must authenticate their identity.

DATA MATCH LOGIC: Saw/Met-you search

Both parties must provide the same or similar description of the situation (including the location) in which they saw or met each other, in order to satisfy condition 1, above. Each user provides the following information about the situation and location where he/she met the person to whom he/she is attracted.

location: name of the location he/she saw or met the other person date: date when he/she saw the other person time range: when he/she saw the other person city: city where is the location he /she saw or met the other person state: state where is the location he /she saw or met the other person country: country where is the location he /she saw or met the other person Whenever possible, selections are made from a system of pull down menus having multiple choices. Both users must describe the same or similar situation (including location) where they met or saw their Secret Love in accordance with the following principles :

location: must be the same or similar description date: must be identical time: must be m overlapping time ranges state. must be identical country: must be identical city: must be the same or similar description

The location description must use the same terms or similar terms. For example each of McDonalds, Donalds and Donald are similar words, and can be accepted as one basic condition for a Love Match m the Saw/Met-you search category. Completely different information about two different locations like a Burger King and a museum cannot be accepted as a basic condition for a Love Match. In the case of location, the match logic for searching the database looks for similar or equivalent words.

The same rules of similarity apply to the city of the location. Common misspellings of the city name are counted as matching the correct city name. City names that encompass smaller included neighborhoods with different local names (but m the same city) are counted as matching the larger city name.

The designated time range to describe the situation can be very wide. Time ranges may also be selected from multiple choice selections on a pull down menu. If both users are within a time range of three hours, the basic condition time range for a Love Match is met. For example, if Tom indicates that a meeting occurred sometime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and Cindy indicates that a meeting occurred sometime between 10 a.m. and 11 am, then the matching condition for the time range is met. On the other hand, if Tom indicates 9 am to 10 am and Cindy indicates 11 am to 12 p.m., then no Love Match is possible.

The data match logic for condition 2, above requires that both user A and user B indicate matching genders, i.e., that each person indicate the correct description of their own gender and the gender of their Secret Love

The data match logic for condition 3, above requires that the personal description of each other must match somewhat, if only to a limited degree. In order to make it more likely that the right persons get a Love Match with each other, the descriptions of user A and user B need not be exact, but may instead match only up to a certain level .

In particular, at least two out of five personal descriptions (condition 3) at the Saw/Met-you location must match. User A and user B describe each other using 5 or more multiple answer type questions. For example:

smoking: yes/no/don't know hair color: dark/medium/ light/don ' t know hair length: short/medium/long/don' t know clothing style: casual/freaky/busmess/sports/don' t know headgear: cap/hat/none/other/don't know

Questions that are answered as "don't know" are not counted towards a Love Match. A Love Match is found if there is sufficient correspondence between the personal descriptions given by user A and user B.

80% matching (minimum relevance) if 2 out of 5 specifications match. 90% matching (high relevance) if 3 or 4 out of 5 specifications match. 100% matching (maximum relevance) if 5 out of 5 specifications match.

Example of a successful Love Match m the Saw/Met-you search category:

(Condition 1) Description of the situation:

User A data User B data location : Mc Donalds Donalds date: 2/20/2000 2/20/2000 time range. 10-11 p.m. 9-10 p.m. city: San Diego San Diego

State- California California

Country: United States United States

analysis : MATCH LEVEL date, state and country are identical o.k. match location: is matching. o.k. match time range is matching (where 10 p.m. is a a time match made within a 2 hour range) o.k. match city is matching: o.k. match

The result is that the description of the situation provided by the two users indicates a situation (including a location) match.

(Conditions 2 and 3) Personal description of the Users themselves and their Secret Love- User A data:

SELF: SECRET LOVE SAW/MET gender : male female smoking : no yes hair color: light dark hair length: medium long clothing style: casual freaky headgear : no cap

User B:

SELF: SECRET LOVE SAW/MET gender : female male smoking : yes no hair color: medium light hair length: long short clothing style: freaky casual headgear: cap no

Analysis : MATCH LEVEL gender : o.k. match smoking : o.k. match hair color: not matching hair length: not matching clothing style: o.k. match headgear : o.k. match

Hair color description does not match because he describes her as having dark hair, but she describes herself as having medium colored hair. Hair length description does not match because he describes himself as having medium long hair, and she describes him as having short hair. However, in spite of some non-matching personal description data, there is substantial matching personal data. The result is that the description of the other person provided by the two users indicates a description match.

The search results in a 90% Love Match because description of the situation is similar, the genders are matching and 3 out of 5 description of the other person match (smoking, clothing style and headgear.

Condition 4: Search request

Condition 5: User authentication

LOVE MATCH RESULTS ARE PROVIDED TO USER A AND USER B

When there is a Love Match, the results are stored m the Love Match status area of the WhoLovesWho web site. User A and user B have access to the Love Match status area and when there is a Love Match, both user A and user B are able to review the following information about the other Love Match partner:

Love Match found: YES or NO, and if yes.

Email address: (of the other Love Match partner)

City of the location: (of the other Love Match partner)

Location : ( of the other Love Match partner) WO 01/37232 ^{_ _} PCT/IBO0/O1582

first name: both Users get the First Name of their Love Match partner.

relevance: Both users get information about their Matches indicating whether the match was made with either 80%, 90% or 100% Love Match.

Although not necessary for informing both users of the Love Match, the city of the location and other location data give the each User further information to confirm the probability of a correct Match.

The described match making system of the present invention makes possible a number of special features. In particular, users can submit one or more Love Persons with different types of identification (some minimum is required) . Users can add more Love Persons at any time they want, and users can delete Love Persons from the system before the standard time of 6 months has run. In addition, users can continue listing Love Persons beyond 6 months if they still have hopes of winning the affections of their Secret Love.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 A method for making a match between first and second persons, said method comprising:

receiving first person data from said first person identifying said first person;

receiving first secret love data from said first person identifying a first secret love person;

receiving second person data from said second person identifying said second person,

receiving second secret love data from said second person identifying a second secret love person; and

making a match between said first person and said second person, if said first person data is substantially the same as said second secret love data, and said second person data is substantially the same as said first secret love data.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a specific person previously known to said first person.

3. A method m accordance with claim 1, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a driver previously seen by said first person.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a unique code displayed by said second person.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a location at which said first person saw or met said second person.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a personal description of said second person derived from a situation in which said first person saw or met said second person.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of making a match comprises making said first person data available to said second person and making said second person data available to said first person.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of making a match comprises sending said first person data to said second person by email and sending said second person data to said first person by email.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first person data is identical to said second secret love data, and said second person data is identical to said first secret love data.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an anonymous message by email to said second person, said anonymous message indicating that said second person has been identified as a secret love person of an anonymous person.

11. An apparatus for making a match between first and second persons, said apparatus comprising:

a computer memory,

said computer memory containing stored first person data received from said first person identifying said first person, said computer memory further containing stored first secret love data received from said first person identifying a first secret love person, said computer memory further containing stored second person data received from said second person identifying said second person, said computer memory further containing stored second secret love data received from said second person identifying a second secret love person; and

a processor coupled to said computer memory,

said processor programmed to make a match between said first person and said second person, if said stored first person data is substantially the same as said stored second secret love data, and said stored second person data is substantially the same as said stored first secret love data.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a specific person previously known to said first person.

13. An apparatus m accordance with claim 11, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a driver previously seen by said first person.

14. An apparatus m accordance with claim 11, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a unique code displayed by said second person.

15. An apparatus m accordance with claim 11, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a location at which said first person saw or met said second person.

16. An apparatus m accordance with claim 11, wherein said first secret love data comprises data corresponding to a personal description of said second person derived from a situation in which said first person saw or met said second person.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said processor is further programmed to make a match by making said first person data available to said second person and making said second person data available to said first person.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said processor is further programmed to make a match by sending said first person data to said second person by email and sending said second person data to said first person by email.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said first person data is identical to said second secret love data, and said second person data is identical to said first secret love data.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said processor is further programmed to send an anonymous message by email to said second person, said anonymous message indicating that said second person has been identified as a secret love person of an anonymous person.