WO2011011809A1

WO2011011809A1 - Method, apparatus and system for arranging a meeting

Info

Publication number: WO2011011809A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Keith Handbury; James Alexander Craig
Original assignee: HANDBURY NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HANDBURY NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-30
Filing date: 2009-07-30
Publication date: 2011-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-30

Abstract

A method (100) of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, is disclosed. A graphical user interface (e.g., 300) is provided for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time. The entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time is compared with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases. The method (100) matches the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison and displays details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR ARRANGING A MEETING

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to social networking and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for arranging a meeting. The present invention also relates to a computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for arranging a meeting.

Background

Social networking services are becoming increasingly popular in today's fast paced society. Social network services aim to develop online communities of people who participate in certain activities and/or share common interests. Social network services also allow people to explore activities and interests of other people. Most conventional social network services are web based in the form of a website. Typically, users of such social networking websites communicate using a number of methods including e-mail and instant messaging services.

Some popular social networking websites include Facebook™, MySpace™, Twitter™, Linkedln™ , Nexopia™ Bebo™, and Hi5™. Millions of people are now using these social networking websites for communicating and sharing information. Many of these websites include categories which allow members of special interest groups (e.g., school-year, graduating class) to find each other. The websites often contain description pages describing a particular member of a particular social networking website. The websites often also include a recommendation system allowing users to refer each other to other users of the particular website. Summary

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said method comprising the step of: providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time;

comparing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases;

matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided apparatus for arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said apparatus comprising:

means for providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time;

means for comparing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases;

means for matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and means for displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said system comprising:

a computer readable memory storing data and a computer program;

a processor coupled to the memory for executing the computer program, said computer program comprising code for:

providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time;

matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and

displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having a computer program recorded therein, the program being executable by a computer apparatus to make the computer perform arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said program comprising:

code for providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time; code for comparing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases;

code for matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and

code for displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and appendices, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow diagram showing a method of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people;

Figs. 2 A and 2B form a schematic block diagram of a general purpose computer system upon which arrangements described can be practiced;

Fig. 3 shows a screen of a graphical user interface for use in the method of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 shows another screen of a graphical user interface for use in the method of Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 5 shows another screen of a graphical user interface for use in the method of

Fig. 1.

Detailed Description including Best Mode

Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the puφoses of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

A method 100 (see Fig. 1) of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The method 100 may be implemented in the form of a website or as part of a social networking website, such as those social websites discussed above or the like. The method 100 allows people to arrange a meeting in a particular geographical location during a particular period. For example, the person may be on a business trip in a foreign country for a particular period and wish to arrange a meeting in that country during that particular period.

The method 100 may be used by any particular person and is particularly advantageous for people who are members of interest groups and wishing to arrange a meeting with another member. These interest groups may have their own dedicated website implementing the method 100. The interest groups may be a promotional or single-issue group in a particular area of interest, such as alcohol (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous™), depression (e.g., beyondblue™), environment (e.g., Greenpeace™), gun laws (e.g., National Rifle Association), the protection of birds (e.g., Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), or animal rights (e.g., People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The interest group may also be a business group, such as the Confederation of Australian Industry, a professional body, such as the Australian Medical Association or even a trade union. The interest group may also be a "Fire brigade" group lobbying on a specific issue such as war, abortion or tax. The interest group may also be a sporting group, association or club, such as Australian Rugby Fan Zone or Tennis Australia.

However, users of the method 100 need not be members of a formalised group. The users may be people with an interest in a subject (e.g., Beethoven string quartets). These people may also live in a certain geographical location. For example, a person with an interest in Beethoven string quartets and who lives in Sydney, may wish to meet other Sydney people with a similar interest.

Figs. 2A and 2B collectively form a schematic block diagram of a general purpose computer system 200, upon which the method 100 described can be practiced.

As seen in Fig. 2A, the computer system 200 is formed by a computer module 201, input devices such as a keyboard 202, a mouse pointer device 203, a scanner 226, a camera 227, and a microphone 280, and output devices including a printer 215, a display device 214 and loudspeakers 217. An external Modulator- Demodulator (Modem) transceiver device 216 may be used by the computer module 201 for communicating to and from a communications network 220 via a connection 221. The network 220 may be a wide-area network (WAN), such as the Internet or a private WAN. Where the connection 221 is a telephone line, the modem 216 may be a traditional "dial- up" modem. Alternatively, where the connection 221 is a high capacity (eg: cable) connection, the modem 216 may be a broadband modem. A wireless modem may also be used for wireless connection to the network 220.

The computer module 201 typically includes at least one processor unit 205, and a memory unit 206 for example formed from semiconductor random access memory (RAM) and semiconductor read only memory (ROM). The module 201 also includes an number of input/output (I/O) interfaces including an audio-video interface 207 that couples to the video display 214, loudspeakers 217 and microphone 280, an I/O interface 213 for the keyboard 202, mouse 203, scanner 226, camera 227 and optionally a joystick (not illustrated), and an interface 208 for the external modem 216 and printer 215. In some implementations, the modem 216 may be incorporated within the computer module 201, for example within the interface 208. The computer module 201 also has a local network interface 211 which, via a connection 223, permits coupling of the computer system 200 to a local computer network 222, known as a Local Area Network (LAN). As also illustrated, the local network 222 may also couple to the wide network 220 via a connection 224, which would typically include a so-called "firewall" device or device of similar functionality. The interface 211 may be formed by an Ethernet™ circuit card, a Bluetooth™ wireless arrangement or an IEEE 802.11 wireless arrangement.

The interfaces 208 and 213 may afford either or both of serial and parallel connectivity, the former typically being implemented according to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards and having corresponding USB connectors (not illustrated). Storage devices 209 are provided and typically include a hard disk drive (HDD) 210. Other storage devices such as a floppy disk drive and a magnetic tape drive (not illustrated) may also be used. An optical disk drive 212 is typically provided to act as a non- volatile source of data. Portable memory devices, such optical disks (eg: CD-ROM, DVD), USB-RAM, and floppy disks for example may then be used as appropriate sources of data to the system 200.

The components 205 to 213 of the computer module 201 typically communicate via an interconnected bus 204 and in a manner which results in a conventional mode of operation of the computer system 200 known to those in the relevant art. Examples of computers on which the described arrangements can be practised include IBM-PC's and compatibles, Sun Sparcstations, Apple Mac™ or alike computer systems evolved therefrom.

The method 100 may be implemented using the computer system 200 wherein the processes of Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 to be described, may be implemented as one or more software application programs 233 executable within the computer system 200. In particular, the steps of the method 100 are effected by instructions 231 in the software that are carried out within the computer system 200. The software instructions 231 may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. The software may also be divided into two separate parts, in which a first part and the corresponding code modules performs the method 100 and a second part and the corresponding code modules manage a graphical user interface between the first part and the user.

The software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below, for example. The software is loaded into the computer system 200 from the computer readable medium, and then executed by the computer system 200. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the computer system 200 preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for implementing the method 100.

The software 233 is typically stored in the HDD 210 or the memory 206. The software is loaded into the computer system 200 from a computer readable medium, and then executed by the computer system 200. Thus for example the software may be stored on an optically readable CD-ROM medium 225 that is read by the optical disk drive 212. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the computer system 200 preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for implementing the method 100. In some instances, the application programs 233 may be supplied to the user encoded on one or more CD-ROM 225 and read via the corresponding drive 212, or alternatively may be read by the user from the networks 220 or 222. Still further, the software can also be loaded into the computer system 200 from other computer readable media. Computer readable storage media refers to any storage medium that participates in providing instructions and/or data to the computer system 200 for execution and/or processing. Examples of such storage media include floppy disks, magnetic tape, CD- ROM, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integrated circuit, USB memory, a magneto-optical disk, or a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card and the like, whether or not such devices are internal or external of the computer module 201. Examples of computer readable transmission media that may also participate in the provision of software, application programs, instructions and/or data to the computer module 201 include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection to another computer or networked device, and the Internet or Intranets including e-mail transmissions and information recorded on Websites and the like.

The second part of the application programs 233 and the corresponding code modules mentioned above may be executed to implement one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to be rendered or otherwise represented upon the display 214. Through manipulation of typically the keyboard 202 and the mouse 203, a user of the computer system 200 and the application may manipulate the interface in a functionally adaptable manner to provide controlling commands and/or input to the applications associated with the GUI(s). Other forms of functionally adaptable user interfaces may also be implemented, such as an audio interface utilizing speech prompts output via the loudspeakers 217 and user voice commands input via the microphone 280. Fig. 2B is a detailed schematic block diagram of the processor 205 and a "memory" 234. The memory 234 represents a logical aggregation of all the memory modules (including the HDD 209 and semiconductor memory 206) that can be accessed by the computer module 201 in Fig. 2 A.

When the computer module 201 is initially powered up, a power-on self-test

(POST) program 250 executes. The POST program 250 is typically stored in a ROM 249 of the semiconductor memory 206. A hardware device such as the ROM 249 is sometimes referred to as firmware. The POST program 250 examines hardware within the computer module 201 to ensure proper functioning, and typically checks the processor 205, the memory (209, 206), and a basic input-output systems software (BIOS) module 251, also typically stored in the ROM 249, for correct operation. Once the POST program 250 has run successfully, the BIOS 251 activates the hard disk drive 210. Activation of the hard disk drive 210 causes a bootstrap loader program 252 that is resident on the hard disk drive 210 to execute via the processor 205. This loads an operating system 253 into the RAM memory 206 upon which the operating system 253 commences operation. The operating system 253 is a system level application, executable by the processor 205, to fulfil various high level functions, including processor management, memory management, device management, storage management, software application interface, and generic user interface.

The operating system 253 manages the memory (209, 206) in order to ensure that each process or application running on the computer module 201 has sufficient memory in which to execute without colliding with memory allocated to another process. Furthermore, the different types of memory available in the system 200 must be used properly so that each process can run effectively. Accordingly, the aggregated memory 234 is not intended to illustrate how particular segments of memory are allocated (unless otherwise stated), but rather to provide a general view of the memory accessible by the computer system 200 and how such is used.

The processor 205 includes a number of functional modules including a control unit 239, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 240, and a local or internal memory 248, sometimes called a cache memory. The cache memory 248 typically include a number of storage registers 244 - 246 in a register section. One or more internal busses 241 functionally interconnect these functional modules. The processor 205 typically also has one or more interfaces 242 for communicating with external devices via the system bus 204, using a connection 218.

The application program 233 includes a sequence of instructions 231 that may include conditional branch and loop instructions. The program 233 may also include data 232 which is used in execution of the program 233. The instructions 231 and the data 232 are stored in memory locations 228-230 and 235-237 respectively. Depending upon the relative size of the instructions 231 and the memory locations 228-230, a particular instruction may be stored in a single memory location as depicted by the instruction shown in the memory location 230. Alternately, an instruction may be segmented into a number of parts each of which is stored in a separate memory location, as depicted by the instruction segments shown in the memory locations 228-229.

In general, the processor 205 is given a set of instructions which are executed therein. The processor 1105 then waits for a subsequent input, to which it reacts to by executing another set of instructions. Each input may be provided from one or more of a number of sources, including data generated by one or more of the input devices 202, 203, data received from an external source across one of the networks 220, 202, data retrieved from one of the storage devices 206, 209 or data retrieved from a storage medium 225 inserted into the corresponding reader 212. The execution of a set of the instructions may in some cases result in output of data. Execution may also involve storing data or variables to the memory 234.

The disclosed arrangements use input variables 254 that are stored in the memory 234 in corresponding memory locations 255-258. The described arrangements produce output variables 261 that are stored in the memory 234 in corresponding memory locations 262-265. Intermediate variables may be stored in memory locations 259, 260, 266 and 267.

The register section 244-246, the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 240, and the control unit 239 of the processor 205 work together to perform sequences of micro-operations needed to perform "fetch, decode, and execute" cycles for every instruction in the instruction set making up the program 233. Each fetch, decode, and execute cycle comprises:

(a) a fetch operation, which fetches or reads an instruction 231 from a memory location 228;

(b) a decode operation in which the control unit 239 determines which instruction has been fetched; and

(c) an execute operation in which the control unit 239 and/or the ALU 240 execute the instruction.

Thereafter, a further fetch, decode, and execute cycle for the next instruction may be executed. Similarly, a store cycle may be performed by which the control unit 239 stores or writes a value to a memory location 232. Each step or sub-process in the processes of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is associated with one or more segments of the program 233, and is performed by the register section 244-1047, the ALU 240, and the control unit 239 in the processor 205 working together to perform the fetch, decode, and execute cycles for every instruction in the instruction set for the noted segments of the program 233.

One or more client computers 250, 251 may be connected to the communications network 220 as seen in Fig. 2A. Each of the computers 250, 251 has a similar configuration to the computer module 201 and corresponding peripherals.

The method 100 may alternatively be implemented in dedicated hardware such as one or more integrated circuits performing the functions or sub functions of the described methods. Such dedicated hardware may include graphic processors, digital signal processors, or one or more microprocessors and associated memories.

The method 100 of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people will now be described with reference Fig. 1. The method 100 may be implemented as one or more code modules of the software 233 resident in the hard disk drive 210 and being controlled in its execution by the processor 205.

As described above, the method 100 allows people to arrange a meeting in a particular geographical location during a particular period. For example, the person may be on a holiday or on business in another town for a particular period and wish to arrange a meeting in that town during that particular period. The method 100 will be described by way of example with reference to a person visiting Thredbo in Australia. In accordance with the present example, the person is a member of the organisation, Alcoholics Anonymous™, and wishes to arrange a meeting with another member of Alcoholics Anonymous™ whilst on holiday in Thredbo. In the example, the person is using the client computer 250 and the computer module 201 is administered by Alcoholics Anonymous™.

The method 100 begins at step 101, where the processor 205 performs the step of providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time. The geographical location and first period of time may be referred to as "search criteria". The geographical location will be represented by the name of a country and the name of a town within that country. The first period of time may be may be represented by a "start date" and an "end date". The start date indicates start of the first period of time that the first person will be staying in the town and the end date indicates the end of the first period of time that the first person will be staying in the town. For example, Fig. 3 shows a screen 300 of the graphical user interface provided at step 101. The screen 300 may be uploaded in the form of a hyper-text mark-up language (HTML) code module by the processor 205 to the client computer 250 in response to a request by a user of the client computer 250. The request may be made via a website administered by Alcoholics Anonymous™. The screen 300 is then displayed on a display screen of the client computer 250.

As seen in Fig. 3, the screen 300 of the graphical user interface comprises means for entering a country. The means for entering the country may be in the form of a graphical object implementing a text box 301 of the screen 300. The text box 301 may be configured as a drop down list populated with all countries. The user of the client computer 250 may enter the name of the country in which they wish to arrange the meeting into the text box 301. hi the present example, the user uses the drop down list of the text box 301 to enter "Australia" into the text box 301. The screen 300 of the graphical user interface also includes means for entering a town in the country. The means for entering the town may be in the form of a graphical object implementing a text box 302 of the screen 300. The user of the client computer 250 may enter the town in which they wish to arrange the meeting into the text box 302. hi the present example, the user enters "Thredbo" into the text box 302.

The screen 300 of the graphical user interface also includes means for entering a time period that the first person will be staying in the town. The means for entering the time period may be in the form of graphical objects implementing text boxes 303 and 304 of the screen 300. The user of the client computer 250 may enter the time period in which they wish to arrange the meeting into the text boxes 303 and 304. hi the present example, the user enters "13 January 2009" representing the start date into the text box 303. The user also enters "18 January 2009" representing the end date into the text box 304.

Upon entering the time period, the user may select a "GO" button 305 implemented by a graphical object displayed on the screen 300. In response to selection of the GO button 305, the geographical location and time period entered by the user may be downloaded by the processor 205 to the computer module 201 and stored in memory 206 and/or hard disk drive 210. The processor 205 may also perform the step of storing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time in a computer database configured within the hard disk drive 210 of the computer module 201. The downloading and storing of the entered geographical location and first time period may be referred to as "registration". Accordingly, the first person may be said to have "registered" their geographical location and time period information.

The country, town, start and end dates may be classified as "mandatory fields" for the purposes of the screen 300 of Fig. 3. In one implementation, the processor 205 may be configured so that the start date and end date provided by the user at step 101 can not precede a current date (i.e., date at which the first person initially registered).

The method 100 continues at the next step 102, where the processor 205 performs the step of comparing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time (i.e., the search criteria corresponding to the first person) with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases. As described above, in the present example, the computer module 201 and the computer databases are administered by Alcoholics Anonymous™. Prior to execution of the method 100, geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to the one or more other persons, are stored in the computer databases configured within the hard disk drive 210 of the computer module 201. These geographical locations and periods of time may be stored by the other users, using a screen similar to the screen 100 of the graphical user interface displayed on another computer (e.g., 251) connected to the network 220. Accordingly, these other persons have "registered" in a similar manner to the first person. In one implementation, the persons registering may also be provided with the means to "post" a comment (or message) as will be described in detail below.

In the present example, the registered other persons are also members of Alcoholics Anonymous™. Prior to execution of the method 100, one of the other members of Alcoholics Anonymous™ (i.e., "a second person" named Bob) indicated that they would be staying in Thredbo from 13 January 2009 to 20 January 2009.

At the next step 103, the processor 205 performs the step of matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison performed at step 102. Accordingly, the processor 205 determines that the search criteria corresponding to the first person matches the registration details of the second person. In the present example, the processor 205 matches the first person to the second person (i.e., Bob) that indicated that they would be staying in Thredbo from 13 January 2009 to 20 January 2009.

Then at the next step 104, the processor 205 performs the step of displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface displayed on the display of the client computer 250, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person. The details of the second person displayed on the graphical user interface displayed on the display may include the name of the second person (e.g., Bob) and the period of time (e.g., 13^th Jan - 20^th Jan 09) that the second person will be in the geographical location. In one implementation, details of all registered persons that match the search criteria entered by the first person will be displayed on the graphical user interface displayed on the display of the client computer 250. In accordance with the present example, a screen 400 shown in Fig. 4 may be displayed on the display of the client computer 250 at step 104. The screen 400 includes an area 401 listing details of each of the registered people that matched the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101. For example, the area 401 includes a listing "Bob in town 13th Jan - 20th Jan 09." In one implementation, the area 401 may display a plurality (e.g., three) listings that match the search criteria.

The method 100 concludes at the next step 105, where the processor 205 performs the step of sending a message (or comment) from the first person to the second person, via the graphical user interface, in order to arrange the meeting between the first and second person within the first period of time. In one implementation, the first person may also be provided with means for sending a message (or posting a comment) in order to send a message to the second person. In accordance with the present example, the screen 400 shown in Fig. 4 includes a "Post Your Comment" form 402 enabling the first person to send the message. As seen in Fig. 4, upon seeing Bob and Mart's details in the screen area 401, the first person (i.e., Jimbo) may send a message (e.g., "I'm in to, will see you there at 10:30") by typing into the text box 403 and then selecting an "Add my post" button" 404. As seen in Fig. 4, the first person may also have an option to enter an email address into an email text box 405.

As seen in Fig. 4, the details of each of the registered people that matched the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101 may also include a message posted by each person. For example, when originally registering his geographical location and time period information, Bob also posted the comment "Hi, im in town for a couple of days and want to know if anyone wants to meet for a coffee. Its hard down here this time of year. It would be great to catch up with someone and have a chat." This comment may have been posted using a form (e.g., 402) of a screen, similar to the screen 400, displayed on a client computer (e.g., 251) being used by Bob.

The registered people that matched the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101 may be displayed in the area 401 in order from a most recent post that matches the search criteria to an earliest post that matches the search criteria. The processor 205 may also be configured to remove any displayed details when the details become outdated (i.e., where a person's end date is earlier than the present).

Returning to the method 100, upon detecting selection of the button 404, the processor 205 may download the message entered by the first person (i.e., Jimbo) and display the message entered by the first person at step 105 on a screen, similar to the screen 400, being displayed on a client computer (e.g., 251) being used by one of the people (e.g., Bob or Matt) that matched the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101. Altematively, the processor 205 may send the message to an email address associated with one or more of the people displayed in the area 401.

The screen 401 also includes a tick box 406 titled "Notify me of any matches".

The tick box 406 may be selected by a user (e.g., the first user) when entering their search criteria at step 101 or when entering their message (or comment) at step 105. In this instance, the processor 205 may be configured to update the area 401 of the screen 400 to display details of any further people registering subsequent to the message from the first person being sent and that match the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101.

In one implementation, the processor 205 may be configured to display the details of each of the registered people that matched the search criteria entered by the first person at step 101, on a bulletin board provided by the graphical user interface. Each of these matched registered people will have access to this bulletin board. Accordingly, all people to whom a particular period of time (e.g., day or days) is relevant may be able to view the bulletin board on the graphical user interface.

In one implementation, the details of each of the registered people displayed on the graphical user interface may also include an email identifier (e.g., "BobOl") or prompt (e.g., "Click here to email me directly"). This email identifier or prompt may be used to send emails between the different users of the method 100, for example, in order to finalise meeting arrangements. For example, on viewing the comment posted by Bob (i.e., "Hi, im in town for a couple of days and want to know if anyone wants to meet for a coffee. Its hard down here this time of year. It would be great to catch up with someone and have a chat."), Jimbo may click on Bob's email identifier and send Bob an email in order to finalise arrangements for a meeting. An Administrator of the website implementing the method 100 may be provided with means for maintaining the messages posted by the registered people. Fig. 5 shows a screen 500 which may be used for maintaining the messages. As seen in Fig. 5, the screen 500 includes a drop-down menu 510 for selecting "Pending", "Rejected" and "Approved". As Pending is selected in the menu 510, the screen 500 displays two messages (i.e., "Matt I could do 5 p.m. Saturday" and "David, See you there, Anyone else?") which have been posted on the website and are pending. Pending messages are posts which have been sent by one or more registered people are still on the Website and have not been checked by the Administrator. If the Administrator selects an "Approved" tick-box (e.g., 520) adjacent to one of the messages, then that particular message will remain on the website and be able to be viewed on screen 400 by one or more of the registered users. Alternatively, if the Administrator selects a "Rejected" tick-box (e.g., 525) adjacent to one of the messages, then that particular message will be removed from the website and will not be able to be viewed on screen 400. This feature allows the Administrator to remove any nuisance messages (or spam messages) from the website. Accordingly, selecting Rejected or Approved on the drop-down menu 510, together with an "Update posts on screen" button 515 will enable the previously rejected or approved messages to be displayed on the screen 500 for the Administrator's maintenance purposes.

The administration screen 500 also includes tick-boxes 530 allowing the Administrator to turn "on" and "off the ability of the registered people to send emails. For example, if the "Off tick-box is selected, then the email identifiers (e.g., "BobOl") or prompts (e.g., "Click here to email me directly") will not be included with the details of the registered people displayed on the graphical user interface. As described above, the user of the client computer 250 may enter the name of the country in which they wish to arrange the meeting into the text box 301. The user of the client computer 250 may then enter the name of the town in which they wish to arrange the meeting into the text box 302. hi one implementation, upon being entered the first time, the country name (e.g, Australia) may be stored in the computer databases configured within the hard disk drive 210 and assigned an identifier (e.g., 1). Similarly, upon being entered the first time, the town name (e.g, Thredbo) may be stored in the computer databases and assigned an identifier (e.g., 2). Subsequently, when a second user begins to enter the same country name (i.e., Australia) into the system 200 in order to arrange a meeting, the processor 205 matches the entered country name to the earlier stored identifier and prompts the user by displaying the term "Australia" in the country text box (e.g., 301) being used by the second user. That is, the processor 205 predicts that the country name "Australia" is being entered and prompts the user. In one example, if still another user has previously entered the country name "Austria" into the system 200 in order to arrange a meeting, then the processor 205 will display both country names (i.e., Australia and Austria) on the graphical user interface being used by the second user and the second user may then select the country that they wish to enter.

Similarly, when the second user begins to enter the same town name (i.e., Thredbo) into the system 200 in order to arrange a meeting, the processor 205 matches the entered town name to the earlier stored identifier (i.e., 2) and prompts the user by displaying the term "Thredbo" in the country text box (e.g., 302) being used by the second user. That is, the processor 205 predicts that the term "Thredbo" is being entered and prompts the user. Storing the country and town names, together with the identifiers, as described above, provides a number of advantages. Firstly, the website implementing the method 100 is able to learn the names of countries and corresponding towns. Secondly, the prediction of the geographical location (i.e., country and town name) that the users are less likely to misspell the names of the countries and towns and are therefore more likely to be able to arrange a meeting, using the method 100, even if they are not sure how to spell the country and/or town name.

As described above, the method 100 is particularly advantageous for people who are members of interest groups, or who have a particular area of interest, and wish to arrange a meeting with another person with similar interests. In one implementation, the screen 300 of the graphical user interface may comprise means for entering (or nominating) a particular area of interest (e.g., cooking, animals). Upon entering the area of interest, the area of interest entered by the user may be downloaded (e.g., together with the geographical location and time period) by the processor 205 to the computer module 201 and stored in memory 206 and/or hard disk drive 210. The processor 205 may also perform the step of storing the entered area of interest in the computer database configured within the hard disk drive 210 of the computer module 201. Then (as at step 102), the processor 205 may perform the step of comparing the entered area of interest (e.g., along with the other search criteria corresponding to the first person) with one or more areas of interest corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases. The processor 205 may then match (as at step 103) the first person to at least a second person based on a comparison of the areas of interest.

The means for entering the area of interest may be in the form of a text box (not shown) of the screen 300. In one implementation, the entered area of interest may be stored together with identifiers, as described above for the country and town names. Accordingly, the website implementing the method 100 is able to learn the names of the various areas of interest. In one implementation, the text box used for entering the area of interest may be configured as a drop down list, populated with various predetermined areas of interest, for selection by a user.

The graphical user interface text boxes, tick boxes and buttons described above may also be implemented as selectable icons, HTML links, drop-down menus or the like.

Industrial Applicability

The arrangements described are applicable to the computer and data processing industries and particularly for communicating using a social networking website or the like.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method of arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said method comprising the step of:

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a message from the first person to the second person, via the graphical user interface, in order to arrange the meeting within the first period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time in a computer database.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message from the second person; and

displaying the received message to the first person via the graphical user interface.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a further message from the first person; and

sending the received further message to the second person in order to finalise the meeting arrangement.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented via a Website.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for entering a country.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for entering a town in the country.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for entering time period that the first person will be staying in the town.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for entering details of the message from the first person to the second person.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further including the step of predicting the geographical location being entered.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving an area of interest.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes means for entering an area of interest.

14. Apparatus for arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said apparatus comprising:

means for matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and

means for displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.

15. A system for arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said system comprising:

a computer readable memory storing data and a computer program;

a processor coupled to the memory for executing the computer program, said computer program comprising code for: providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time;

16. A computer readable storage medium having a computer program recorded therein, the program being executable by a computer apparatus to make the computer perform arranging a meeting between a plurality of people, said program comprising:

code for providing a graphical user interface for entering a geographical location of a first person over a first period of time;

code for comparing the entered geographical location of the first person and the first period of time with one or more geographical locations and periods of time, corresponding to one or more other persons, previously stored in one or more computer databases;

code for matching the first person to at least a second person based on the comparison; and code for displaying details of the second person on the graphical user interface, enabling the meeting to be arranged between the first person and the second person.