Systems and methods for matching people based on perceived activities

Abstract

Matching systems and methods for social networking systems can select matches for users based on observed activities. A matching system can include, for example, a preference unit, a monitoring unit, and a matching unit. Generally, the preference unit can receive and process matching preference information for a user; the monitoring unit can monitor the user's activities on or observable by the server; and the matching unit can select and recommend matches for the user based on the monitored activities. Thus, matches can be suggested to the user based on the user's observed activities, and not simply based on the user's potentially inaccurate self-description.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring interactions, by a first entity associated with a first user account, with an electronic system;   storing, in a data store, first activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first entity on the electronic system, including an indication of areas of the electronic system accessed by the first user account;   receiving second activity data representing one or more recorded actions of a plurality of additional entities on the electronic system, the additional entities associated with a plurality of additional user account;   determining, by a processor, based on comparing the first activity data associated with the first user account and the second activity data associated with the plurality of additional user accounts, a respective matching score for each of the plurality of additional user accounts;   selecting, based on predetermined criteria and a respective matching score, a second user account from the plurality of additional user accounts; and   providing, to the first user account, an indication of a second entity associated with the second user account, including providing an electronic link to an electronic resource associated with the second entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving preference data, associated with the first user account, indicating a set of predetermined types of interactions to monitor, wherein the first activity data is limited to representing recorded actions corresponding to the set of predetermined types of interactions.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system comprises a website, and the areas of the electronic system accessed by the first user account include areas of the website visited by the first user account. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first entity and second entity is a company. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system comprises a social networking system and the electronic resource associated with the second entity is a profile associated with the second user account. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is remotely accessed, over a computer network, from a local client device, by the first user account, the method further comprising:
 receiving, local activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on the local client device, and incorporating the local activity data into the first activity data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is remotely accessed, over a computer network, from a local client device, by the first user account, the method further comprising:
 receiving, peripheral activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on a peripheral device in communication with the local client device, and incorporating the peripheral activity data into the first activity data.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 an electronic system accessible by a plurality of client devices;   a processor;   at least one memory operatively coupled to the processor and configured for storing data and instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 monitoring interactions, by a first entity associated with a first user account and the local client device, with the electronic system; 
 storing, in a data store, first activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on the electronic system, including an indication of resources of the electronic system accessed by the first user account; 
 receiving second activity data representing one or more recorded actions of a plurality of additional entities on the electronic system, the additional entities associated with a plurality of additional user account; 
 determining, by the processor, based on comparing the first activity data associated with the first user account and the second activity data associated with the plurality of additional user accounts, a respective matching score for each of the plurality of additional user accounts; 
 selecting, based on predetermined criteria and a respective matching score, a second user account from the plurality of additional user accounts; and 
 providing, to the first user account, an indication of a second entity associated with the second user account, including providing an electronic link to an electronic resource associated with the second entity. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , the electronic system comprising a media player, wherein the resources of the electronic system access by the first user account include media played by the first user account on the media player. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 receiving preference data, associated with the first user account, indicating a set of predetermined types of interactions to consider, wherein the comparing of the first activity data and second activity data is limited to recorded actions corresponding to the set of predetermined types of interactions.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic system comprises a website, and the areas of the electronic system accessed by the first user account include areas of the website visited by the first user account. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic system comprises a social networking system and the electronic resource associated with the second entity is a webpage associated with the second entity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic system is remotely accessed, over a computer network, by the first user account from a local client device, the method further comprising:
 receiving, local activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on the local client device, and incorporating the local activity data into the first activity data.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, that stores instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
 receiving first activity data representing one or more recorded actions of a first user on the electronic system, the first user associated with a first user account;   receiving second activity data representing one or more recorded actions of a plurality of additional users on the electronic system, the additional users associated with a plurality of user accounts;   actively monitoring interactions, by the first user, with the electronic system;   responsive to recording a new user interaction, by the first user, with the electronic system, incorporating an indication of the new user interaction in the first activity data;   determining, by the processor, based on comparing the first activity data associated with the first user account and the second activity data associated with the plurality of additional entities, a respective matching score for each of the plurality of additional user accounts;   selecting, based on a respective matching score and predetermined criteria, a second user account from the plurality of additional user accounts; and   providing, to the first user account, an indication of a second entity associated with the second user account, including providing an electronic link to an electronic resource associated with the second entity.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 receiving preference data, associated with the first user account, indicating a set of predetermined types of interactions to monitor, wherein the first activity data include actions corresponding to the set of predetermined types of interactions.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system comprises a website, and the areas of the electronic system accessed by the first user account include areas of the website visited by the first user account. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first entity and second entity is a company. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system comprises a social networking system and the electronic resource associated with the second entity is a profile associated with the second user account. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is remotely accessed, over a computer network, by the first user account from a local client device, the method further comprising:
 receiving, local activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on the local client device, and incorporating the local activity data into the first activity data.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is remotely accessed, over a computer network, from a local client device, by the first user account, the method further comprising:
 receiving, peripheral activity data representing one or more recorded actions of the first user on a peripheral device in communication with the local client device, and incorporating the peripheral activity data into the first activity data.