https://patents.google.com/patent/US12019694B1/en?inventor=Maxim+Cheremkhin
almost all dating apps have features for users to select their "relationship goals". For example, "serious relationship", "long term", "short term", "casual", "new friends", "hookups".
Once selected, the "relationship goal", then acts as an additional filter to find matches with the same or similar "relationship goals".
I am not sure when the "relationship goals" feature was first introduced and by who. But I am almost sure that it predates the patent above. And if they do not predate the above patent, all of these apps currently would be infringing on this patent?
The patent above
claim:
1. A computer implemented method, comprising:
receiving, from a client device, matching criteria specified by a first individual at a first time in a sequence of time steps, the matching criteria including an indication of an intention for a relationship specified by the first individual at the first time, wherein the intention is selected from a range of available intentions, and wherein the selected intention can be modified at a second time in the sequence of time steps;
for each time in the sequence of time steps, generating a match between the first individual and at least one individual in a pool of individuals based upon the matching criteria, including identifying the at least one individual in the pool of individuals having an intention at the time for a relationship that is consistent with the intention specified by the first individual;
transmitting to the client device data configured to cause the client device to display:
(a) an indication of the match between the first individual and the at least one individual in the pool of individuals, and
(b) an indication of the intention for a relationship for the at least one individual at the time for display with the match, wherein the indication of the intention for the at least one individual comprises a presentation of a particular intention selected from the range of available intentions, wherein the presentation of the particular intention selected from the range of available intentions comprises a graphical user interface element identifying the particular intention;
collecting a match acceptance from the client device for the at least one individual; and
in response to the match acceptance, enabling network communication between the first individual and the at least one individual.
The only point that I can think of is that the patent does narrow down its definition for "intentions" to a numeric scale in the specifications:
...A slider bar 304 with a feature 306 may be used to specify the commitment disposition between a high level (e.g., “Mr. Right”) and a low level (e.g., “Mr. Right Now”)...
...However, an overriding filter condition is commitment disposition criterion, which must match within some specified range (e.g., two individuals may not deviate in position on the slider 304 in FIG. 3 by more than 25%)...
...The commitment disposition criterion discussed m connection with FIG. 3 may be referred to as a “mood scale”. The feature 306 can be moved on scale 304 between different ‘moods’. Moving the indicator button 306 on scale 304 serves two purposes for the user...
...Through the use of the indicator scale users are able to indicate what their intentions are as they look for matches, and also filter the other users available to view...
Questions:
- Given the language in the specifications, must the term "intention" in the claims be defined narrowly as a "numeric scale"?
- If (1) is accurate, doesn't it still render it obvious in light of the existence of prior art, which are "relationship goals"?
- Who currently owns the rights to US12019694B1. The assignees is confusing.
