Connection system

Abstract

Various embodiments include systems and methods for providing communication among a plurality of users with complementary requirements in an electronic network.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale, and from a second user a search criterion;   determining, by a processor of the matchmaking system, that the first product meets the search criterion and an alias;   presenting to the first user a notification of the search criterion; and   presenting, in response to the determination that the first product meets the search criterion, to the first user the alias and an option to initiate communication with the second user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  1  in which the search criterion includes a set of key words, and in which presenting the notification of the search criterion includes presenting to the first user the set of key words. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which determining that the first description matches the search criterion comprises determining that a first word in the first description is included in the search criterion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  1  in which the search criterion includes a geographic region, and in which presenting the notification of the criterion includes presenting to the first user an indication of the geographic region. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  1  in which receiving the first description includes receiving a network address indicating an existing posting, and retrieving, via the network address, information from the existing posting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sending, via an external chat service in response to the first user selection the option, a signal to the second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user; 
 receiving permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and 
 transmitting a message from the first user to the second user via the external chat service. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale, and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;   comparing, by a processor of the matchmaking system, the first description to the second description;   determining, by the processor, that the first description matches the second description;   determining that the first user is logged onto an external chat service;   providing to the second user an indication that the first user is logged onto the external chat service;   receiving from the second user an indication of a desire to communicate with the first user;   sending, via the external chat service, a signal to the first user indicating that the second user wishes to communicate with the first user;   receiving permission from the first user to put the second user in communication with the first user; and   transmitting a message from the second user to the first user via, the external chat service.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description is included in the second description. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises:
 determining a first geographic region based on the first description; 
 determining a second geographic region based on the second description; and 
 determining that the first geographic region is proximate to the second geographic region. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising receiving a first alias from the first user, the first alias serving to identify the first user on the external chat service, in which determining that the first user is logged onto the external chat service comprises checking the status of the first alias with the external chat service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale; 
 determining that the second description matches the third description; 
 determining a first geographic region based on the first description; 
 determining a second geographic region based on the second description; 
 determining a third geographic region based on the third description; 
 determining a first distance based on the first geographic region and the second geographic region; 
 determining a second distance based on the second geographic region and the third geographic region; 
 determining that the first distance is less than the second distance; and 
 displaying, for the second user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first distance is less than the second distance. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , in which determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description matches a second word in the second description, the method further comprising:
 receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;   determining that a third word in the second description matches a fourth word in the third description, in which the third word is different from the second word;   determining a first category associated with the second word;   determining a second category associated with the third word;   determining a first priority associated with the first category;   determining a second priority associated with the second category;   determining that the first priority is higher than the second priority; and   displaying, for the second user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first priority is higher than the second priority.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the first category is geography and the second category is product age. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  in which receiving the first description includes receiving a network address indicating an existing posting, and retrieving, via the network address, information from the existing posting. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale, in which the first description is received at a first time;   receiving, by the matchmaking system, from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase, in which the second description is received at a second time that is before the first time;   determining, by a processor of the matchmaking system, that the first description matches the second description;   transmitting to the first user an indication of the second description, in which the indication of the second description is transmitted to the first user substantially immediately after the first time;   receiving from a third user a third description of a third product that the third user desires to purchase, in which the third description is received at a third time that is after the first time;   determining that the first description matches the third description;   transmitting to the first user an indication of the third description;   providing to the first user contact information for the second user;   receiving from the first user a request to contact the second user; and   enabling the first user to communicate with the second user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 receiving from the first user a network address at which additional information can be found about the first product; and 
 transmitting to the second user an indication of the network address. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  in which enabling the first user to communicate with the second user comprises:
 receiving a first message from the first user via an Internet chat client; and 
 transmitting the first message to a cellular phone belonging to the second user via Short Messaging Service. 
 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   an input module, implemented by the processor, configured to receive from a first user a first description of a first product for sale, and from a second user a search criterion;   a matching engine, implemented by the processor, configured to determine that the first product meets the search criterion and an alias;   an output module, implemented by the processor, configured to present to the first user a notification of the search criterion, in response to the determination that the first product meets the search criterion; and to present to the first user the alias and an option to initiate communication with the second user.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  in which the search criterion includes a set of key words, and in which the output module is configured to present the notification of the search criterion by presenting the set of key words to the first user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  in which matching engine is configured to determine that the first description matches the search criterion by determining that a first word in the first description is included in the search criterion. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  in which the search criterion includes a geographic region, and in which the output module is configured to present the notification of the search criterion by presenting an indication of the geographic region to the first user. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  in which the first description includes a network address indicating an existing posting, and the input module is configured to retrieve information from the existing posting.