System and method for social networking in a virtual space

Abstract

Social networking in a virtual space over a network is facilitated. Subscriber computing devices each operated by a subscriber are associated with a subscriber identifier. Each computing device is connected to the network. A subscriber profile is created in a profile datastore, wherein the subscriber profile comprises information about the subscriber and wherein the subscriber profile is associated with the subscriber's subscriber identifier. Subscriber identifiers associated with subscribers who are logged in to a website are monitored. The website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscribers are characterized as present in the virtual space. A web page is served to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network. The web page of a first subscriber comprises a first subscriber icon associated with the first subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers. A determination is made whether the first subscriber profile matches the subscriber profile of one or more of the other present subscribers according to matching criteria. An attribute is assigned to the icons of the other present subscribers that match the profile of the first subscriber according to matching criteria. Selected profile information is provided to the first subscriber of a selected one of any of the other present matching subscribers.

1 . A system for social networking in a virtual space comprising:
 a network;   subscriber computing devices, wherein the subscriber computing devices are each associated with a subscriber identifier and wherein each computing device is connected to the network;   a profile datastore, wherein the profile datastore comprises a subscriber profile comprising information about a subscriber and wherein the subscriber profile is associated with the subscriber's subscriber identifier;   an information processor connected to the network, wherein the information processor comprises instructions for:
 monitoring subscriber identifiers associated with the subscriber devices that are logged into a website, wherein the website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscriber devices are characterized as present in the virtual space; 
 serving web pages to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network, wherein a web page of a present subscriber comprises a subscriber icon associated with the present subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers; 
 determining whether a subscriber profile associated with the present subscriber matches the subscriber profiles associated with the other present subscribers according to matching criteria (herein, the “matching determination”), wherein the matching determination results in a matching score; 
 in response to the matching determination, linking the icon of the present subscriber to the icons associated with other present subscribers having profiles that match the profile of the subscriber according to the matching criteria; 
 displaying a match indicator to the present subscriber of a selected one of the other present matching subscribers associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers; and 
 assigning an attribute to the icon of the present subscriber according to the matching score. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the match indicator comprises an attribute icon associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers and wherein the processor further comprises instructions for:
 determining when the attribute icon is selected by the present subscriber; and   when the attribute icon is selected by the present subscriber, displaying attribute information associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers to the present subscriber in accordance with at least one attribute condition established by the selected one of the other present matching subscribers.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers are selected from the group consisting of a geometric shape, an avatar, a shape of an animal, and a shape of an object. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a hue, a size, a shape, a sound, flashing, and a periodic change from one attribute to another attribute. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber computing devices are selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a cellphone, and a smartphone. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the profile information is selected from the group consisting of personal data and preference data. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual space is representative of a real space and wherein the web page comprises a graphical depiction of the virtual space. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the information processor further comprises instructions for determining a location of the subscriber computing device relative to the real space and wherein the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers are displayed relative to their locations in the real space. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the real space is selected from a country, a city, a geographic region, a shopping mall, a trade show venue, a social venue, a school, a university, a bar, a night club, and a sports venue. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein computing devices are wireless devices, the network is a wireless network, and the present subscriber and the other present subscribers are physically located in the real space. 
     
     
         11 . A method for social networking in a virtual space over a network comprising:
 associating subscriber computing devices with subscriber identifiers, wherein each computing device is connected to the network;   creating a subscriber profile in a profile datastore, wherein the subscriber profile comprises information about a subscriber and wherein the subscriber profile is associated with the subscriber's subscriber identifier;   monitoring subscriber identifiers associated with the subscriber devices that are logged into a website, wherein the website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscriber devices are characterized as present in the virtual space;   serving web pages to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network, wherein a web page of a present subscriber comprises a subscriber icon associated with the present subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers;   determining whether a subscriber profile associated with the present subscriber matches the subscriber profiles associated with the other present subscribers according to matching criteria (herein, the “matching determination”), wherein the matching determination results in a matching score;   in response to the matching determination, linking the icon of the present subscriber to the icons associated with other present subscribers having profiles that match the profile of the subscriber according to the matching criteria and assigning an attribute to the icons of the other present subscribers having profiles that match the profile of the present subscriber according to matching criteria;   displaying a match indicator to the present subscriber of a selected one of the other present matching subscribers associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers; and   assigning an attribute to the icon of the present subscriber according to the matching score.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the match indicator comprises an attribute icon associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining when the attribute icon is selected by the present subscriber; and   when the attribute icon is selected by the present subscriber, displaying attribute information associated with the selected one of the other present matching subscribers to the present subscriber in accordance with at least one attribute condition established by the selected one of the other present matching subscribers.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers are selected from the group consisting of a geometric shape, an avatar, a shape of an animal, and a shape of an object. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a hue, a size, a shape, a sound, flashing, and a periodic change from one attribute to another attribute. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subscriber computing devices are selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a cellphone, and a smartphone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the profile information is selected from the group consisting of personal data and preference data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual space is representative of a real space and wherein the web page comprises a graphical depiction of the virtual space. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 determining a location of the subscriber computing devices relative to the real space; and   displaying the interested subscriber icon and the other present subscriber icons relative to their locations in the real space.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the real space is selected from a country, a city, a geographic region, a shopping mall, a trade show venue, a social venue, a school, a university, a bar, a night club, and a sports venue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein computing devices are wireless devices, the network is a wireless network, and the interested subscriber and the other present subscribers are physically located in the real space.