WO2005034005A1

WO2005034005A1 - System and method for matching ideal type

Info

Publication number: WO2005034005A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dong-Gyu Choi
Original assignee: Dong-Gyu Choi
Priority date: 2003-10-07
Filing date: 2003-10-07
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: AU2003268790A1

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to an ideal type matching service and, more particularly, to an ideal type matching service and method, which allows a user to input information about the location where the user encountered a desired ideal type, information about the time when the user parts from the ideal type and information about the looks and features of the ideal type and searches for the ideal type based on the input information, when the user encountered the ideal type at the location, such as a bus, the subway or a specific building. The ideal type matching service system includes an information input means for allowing the user to input information about a location, a time and appearances of the usr and the ideal type; a database for storing the input information; a matching means for searching for matches; a notification means for notifying the user and the ideal type of the matches; and a control means.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FORMATCFHNG IDEAL TYPE

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to an ideal type matching service and, more particul^ly, to .an ide type matching service system .and method, which .allows a user to input information about a location .and the looks and features of a desired ide^ type .and searches for the ideal type based on the inputted information, when the user encounters the ided type at the location, such as a bus, the subway or a specific building.

Background Art

Recently, networks and communications have rapidly spreaded to the lives of people, but the time for meeting people and having social interaction is decreasing. For this case, matchmaker companies are being founded, and schemes for performing such help on web sites connected to users via communication networlcs are being developed, h more detail, in a scheme of helping people meet people of the opposite sex, a user accesses a web site, makes a membership registration, and inputs information about the user and his(or her) ided type according to the conditions of the web site. Then, a company operating the web site searches for a person suitable for the information about the ide^ type and helps them meet. However, in this case, it is not likely that the user is attracted to the searched one, who is not selected by the user. In another conventional technique, an ide.al type is searched for within a frequently visited area according to the searching condition inputted by a user. However, in this case, it is almost impossible to find a desired ideal type because information about the area input by the user is too wide and the ide.al type' s information is not specific enough. Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention has been m^e to solve the .above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide .an ideal type matching system and method, by which a user can search for an ideal type by inputting detailed user information, information about the location where a user encountered the ideal type, .and information about the looks and features of the ideal type to a website in detail in the case where the user encountered the ideal type in the .subway, a bus or a plane, or while walking on the .street. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ideal type matching service system and method, which .allows the user to communicate with .an ideal type via a Short Message Service

(SMS), instant messaging or e-mail using a wireless communication network or the Internet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a communication network to which an ideal type matching service system according to the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of the ideal type matching service system; FIG.3 is a configuration diagram showing the database of the present invention in detail; FIG.4 is a diagram showing an example of a matching condition database according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the matching means of the present invention in detail; FIG.6 is a configuration diagram showing the notification means of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a flowchart for illustrating the an ideal type matching method .according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a priority deterrnination method a . ccording to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a priority determination method according to another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a priority detemiination method .according to .still another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

An ideal type matching service system according to the present invention includes an information input means for allowing the user to input information about a location and a time at which the user encountered the ideal type and information about appearances of the user and the ideal type; a database for storing the inputted infomiation; a matching means for searching for matches between information inputted by the user and the information stor. d in the database and deterrnining priorities; a notification means for notifying the user .and the ideal type of the matches; and a control means for managing and controlling the information input means, the database, the matching means and the notification means. Additionally, an ideal type matching service method acx»rding to the present invention includes the steps of receiving infomiation about a location and a time at which the user encountered the ideal type .and information about appearances of the user .and the ided type; storing the input information in a database; searching for matches between information inputted by the user and the information stored in the database; detennining priorities of matches; and notifying the user and the ideal type of the matches. With reference to the .accompmying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a communication network to which an ideal type rratching service system 300 is applied. The ideal type matching service system 300 operates in conjunction with member computers

100a, 100b, 100c, • • •, the Intemet 200, a wireless communication network 500, and member terminds 600a, 600b, 600c, • • •. When a user sees an ideal type or attractive person of the opposite sex at one of the various locations, such .as a street, tlie subway, a bus or a plane, while going to or coming home from school in the case of a student, while going to or coming home from work in the case of a company employee, or while moving to other locations in tlie case of other persons, the user .accesses the kteal type matching service system 300 that is connected to tlie Intemet 200, using one of the member computers 100a, 100b, 100c, • • •. When the user accesses the ideal type matching service system 300, the user makes a membership registration and inputs user information, infomiation about the time and location at which the user encountered the ideal type, and information about the looks and features of the ideal type. The ideal type matching service system 300 matches tl e infomiation about the location where Hie user encountered the ideal type and the looks and features of Hie ideal type, which is inputted by the user, to information that is stored in the ideal type matching service system 300. In this case, only if H e ideal type inputted by the user has also registered with the ideal type matching service system 300 and also inputted the user as an ideal type, it can be found during a matching process in the ideal matching service system 300. When an appropriate ideal type is found as the result of the matching process, a short message is transmitted to the ideal type's teiminal 600.9, 600b, or 600c, • • • in conjunction with the wireless communication network 500, or e-mail or an instant message is transmitted to the ideal type's computer in conjunction with the Internet 200. The terminals 600a, 600b, 600c, • • • are the mobile communication terminals of members who search for ideal types using the present system, that is, devices for providing mobile communication service, for example, mobile phones, pagers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). FIG.2 is a diagram showing the entire construction of the ideal type matching service system 300.according to the present invention. The ideal type matching service system 300 includes a member authentication means 310, an information input means 330, a database 350, a matching means 390, a notification means 410, a control means 430 and a billing means 450. The member authentication means 310 examines whether the user coincides with a registered member to protect persond information when the user accesses the ideal type matching service system 300, and causes tlie user to input .an ID .and a password. If it is the user's first .access to the ide^ type matching service system 300, the member authentication means 310 causes the user to input user information necessary for member registration. The information input means 330 causes the user to input information necessary for member registration, or user information or information about a target ideal type, and stores the inputted information, in conjunction with the control means 430 and the database 350. An input sιp.ace, which is provided by the information input means 330 and in which user infomiation and infomiation about an ideal type whom the user wants to find are entered, includes objective item spaces in which times, locations and appearances are classified in detail, and a related .story sp.ace in which sentiments felt or H e circumstances when the user encountered his or her ided type .are described and the images of the user and tl e ideal type obtained when Hie user encountered the ideal type are inputted. In .addition, in the case where the user encountered the ideal type a long time ago or cannot select the location where the user encountered H e ideal type, a message board type input space is provided and irrformation is entered in the message board type input space. The appearance information of the objective items is one of a photo image, an avatar image and the combination thereof. In Hie above items, the unit of time previously set by an operator, is represented by an at least 10 or 30 minute, and one or more units can be inputted. For example, if tl e user does not remember the time period in which the user encountered or parted from the ideal type, tl e time can be indicated by inputting one or more time units. Furthermore, when the user will change the user information or information about the ideal type, the user inputs changed information through the information input means 330. The database 350 includes a member database 351, a matching database 360, a priority database 362 and a message database 364. Tlie member database 351 stores an ID, a password, a name, a gender, a date of birth, a final academic career, a vocation, a marital status, a telephone number, a mobile phone number .and an address that the user inputs to the ideal type matching service system 300 at the time of member registration, and tlie user further stores detailed user information and information about an ideal type for whom the user searches. The matching database 360 stores infomiation that coincides with or is similar to member information based on information that the user has inputted. The priority database 362 stores information stored in the matching database 360 in order of priority. The message database 364 stores the contents of instant messages exchanged between members, which .are immediately displayed when the user logs in, and further stores contents inputted to the message board-type input space used in case the user encountered the ideal type a long time ago or cannot select the location where H e user encountered the ideal type. The matching means 390 is a means for matching infomiation inputted by the user to some other user information stored in H e member database 351. When there is .an ideal type that coincides with or is similar to user infomiation and ideal type information inputted by Hie user, H e information is stored and is assigned a priority according to the number of matches of items or points. The notification means 410 provides an icon for e-mail, SMS or instant messaging to transmit a message to the ideal type when the user, having checked the results of the matching means 390, wants to make contact with a highest priority ideal type, hi this case, to protect the privacy of the ideal type, the phone number of the member terminal 600a, 600b, or 600c, • • • or an e-mail address is not exhibited. For example, in tl e case where a person 'A' wants to transmit a short message to an ideal type 'B', the short message can be inputted by pressing an SMS icon. Then, the message inputted by the person 'A' is transmitted with reference to information about the phone number of the member terminal 600a, 600b, or 600c, • • • that is .stored in the ideal type matching service system 300. Furthermore, the notification means 410 displays a process being performed on the ideal type matching service system 300, a message, or a statement inputted through the message board-type input space to allow the user or operator of Hie ideal type matehing service system 300 to view it when necessary. For example, when the user performs matching by inputting infomiation about a target ideal type, but no ideal type results from the matching, and logs out, the user accesses the ideal type matching service system 300 the following time, h this case, if new matehing has occurred information since the user last accessed the ideal type matching service system 300, the notification means 410 displays the infomiation about the target ideal type at the moment when the user accesses the ideal type matching service system 300 .after the verification of the member authentication means 310. In another case, even when the user transmits an instant message to an ideal type, a message is indicated by the notification means 410. The control means 430 is a means for controlling the entire operation of the ideal type matching service system 300, and works in conjunction with all the devices of H e ideal type matching service system 300. For example, in the case where the user accesses the ideal type matching service system 300 or visits Hie ideal type matching service system 300 for the first time, when the member authentication means 310 transmits a signal to the control means 430, the control means 430 transmits a signal to the information input means 330, therefore, causes the user to input necessary information (member information, his or her own detailed information, infomiation about an ideal type (target person)) as occasion demands. When tlie control means 430 receives a signal indicating that the user accessed the ideal type matching service system 300 from the member authentication means 310, tlie control means 430 transmits a signal to the notification means 410 and controls the notification means 410 so that necessary information is displayed. The billing means 450 charges the user usage fees based on the information inputted by the user .and .stored in the database 350. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the database 350 according to the present invention in detail. FIG.3 is described with reference to the contents illustrated in FIG.2. The database 350 includes tlie member information database 351, the matching database 360, the priority database 362 and the message database 364. The member database 351 includes a member information database 352 for storing an ID, a password, a name, a gender, a date of birth, a final academic career, a vocation, marital status, a telephone number, a mobile phone number, an address or the like that the user inputs into the ided type matching service system 300 at the time of member registration, and a matehing condition database 353 for storing information about the location and time at which the user encountered the ideal type, information about the appearances of the user and the ideal type and a related story. The matching condition database 353 includes a location pattern field 354, a time pattern field 355, an appearance pattern field 356 and a related story field 357, and stores infomiation about the date and location at which the user encountered tlie ideal type, information about tlie time period in which the user parted from the ideal type, and information about the appearances of the user and the ideal type. The matching database 360 stores information on matches if, as the result of the matching of the matching condition databases 353 of members in the matching means 390, there is coincident or similar information. The priority database 362 stores ideal type information in order of priority b.ased on Hie information of H e matching database 360. The message database 364 stores the contents of instant messages exchanged between members and, additionεtlly, stores contents inputted to the mess^e bo.ard-type input space in the case where the user encountered the ideal type a long time ago or cannot select tl e location where the user encountered the ideal type, hi this case, users registered with the ideal type matehing service system 300 sometimes se^ch for ideal types in the contents of the message bo,ard-type input sp.ace stored in the message database 364. FIG.4 is a diagram showing an example of the matching condition database 353 according to the present invention. FIG.4 is described with reference to the contents illustrated in FIG.3. The matching condition datable 353 basically includes H e location pattern field 354, the time pattern field 355, the appearance pattern field 356 and Hie related .story field 357. The matching condition database 353 classifies infomiation into the subway, a bus, a train, an express bus, a plane, a shop, a school, a company, etc. according to the location where the user encountered or passed by the ideal type. Location information, time infomiation, appearance infoimation and a related story are stored in subordination to this classification. Tlie location pattern field 354 stores information while classifying the information .according to tlie names of large areas, for example, Seoul/ nclιeonSuwon/Busa. ιι/Daegιιe Daejeon. Subordinate to this classification, for information about location, that is, the names of small areas, infomiation about the line number of the subway on which the user encountered or passed by the ideal type, the name of a subway station at which the user got off along with the ide type, and the name of a subway station at which either the user or the ideal type got off first are stored. The above description shows a part of the location database with the subway taken as an example. If the location where the user encountered or p.assed by the ideal type is a bus, tlie n.ames of large areas are all the names of areas around which the bus travels, and the range of the large areas will be wider than that of the large areas for the subway. The names of small areas are replaced with bus numbers, and tlie name of a bus stop at which either the user or the ideal type got off before the other is stored as the name of the station, hi the case of an express bus, corresponding information may be replaced with the name of a location of arrival and the time of depa. rture of the express bus, and the case of a train is similar to the case of Hies .ubway, h tl e case of a plane, corresponding information may be replaced with the formal name of a destination and the time of departure, and in the case of an architecture or building other than a means of mass transportation, coixesponding information may be replaced with the name of the building. The time pattern field 355 stores the date when the user encountered the ideal type and the time period in which the user parted from the ideal type. The appearance pattern field 356 is a field for storing detailed information that the user uses to search for the ideal type, and .stores information about the appearances of the user and the ideal type. The appearance pattern field 356 stores detailed infomiation about the appearances of the user and the ideal type. In Hie case where the user is a male and the ideal type is a female, the appearance pattern field 356 includes the fields of hairstyle, hair wave, hair dye status, dyeing color, dress style, jacket style, sleeve length, jacket brand, jacket color, pant style, pant material, pant color, shoe style, shoe brand, shoe color, headwear style, headwear brand, headwear color, bag style, bag brand, bag color and accessories of the user, and further includes the fields of hairstyle, hair wave, hair dye status, dyeing color, dress style, blouse style, sleeve length, blouse brand, blouse color, pants style, trouser .style, skirt style, skirt pleats, pant material, pant color, shoe style, heel height, shoe brand, shoe color, headwear style, headwear brand, headwear color, bag style, bag brand, bag color and accessories of H e ideal type to specify information about the appearance of the ideal type that the user remembers. The above- described storage items .are items that indicate infomiation about the clothing or accessories that the user was wearing when encountered the ideal type and information about the clothing or accessories that the ideal type is remembered as wearing. The above-described storage items are only an example, and may be reptaced with other detailed items or .alternative items that allow the ideal type to be easily found. Furthermore, the above-described items are images such as avatars and stored in the case where the user selects the images. The related story field 357 stores the circumstances under which or sentiments felt when the user encountered or passes by the ideal type in descriptive form. The image, obtained by a camera attached to a mobile phone in use or by some other means may be stored. The related .story field 357 is excluded from matching conditions at the time of matching, but is used to confirm the ideal type at a final step. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the matching means 390 of the present invention in further detail. FIG.5 is described with reference to the contents described in FIG.3. The matching means 390 includes a searching means 391 and a priority means 397. The searching means 391 includes a primary searching means 393 and a secondary searching means 395. The primary searching means 393 searches for matches of information about the time and location at which the user encountered the ideal type. If there is no match in that case, tlie matching means 390 does not search for the ided type any further. If, as the result of the searching by the primary searching means 391, there .are matches, the secondary searching means 395 searches for tl e matches of the appearance information stored in the matching condition database 353. If, as the result of the searching by the primary searching means 393, there are approximate ideal types, the priority means 397 arranges the ide>al types in order of priority based on the search results of the second.ary seeching means 395. FIG. 6 is a configuration di.agram of tlie notification means 410 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is described with reference to the contents described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. The notification means 410 includes a web server 411, an e-mail server 413, a text message server 415, an instant message server 417, and a matching result server 419. The web server 411 is a server that controls the e-mail server 413, the text message server 415, the instant message server 417, and the matching result server 419. When the user wants to transmit a message to the ideal type via e- mail, a text message or an instant message, the web server 411 transmits a message to one of the member terminals 600a, 600b, 600c, • • •, and the member computers 100a, 100b, 100c, • • • through the control means 430 via the wireless communication network 500 or the Internet 200. When the user wants to transmit a message via e-mail, the e-mail server 413 .allows a message, which will be transmitted to the ideal type, to be inputted, and transmits signals to the web server 411. When the user wants to transmit a text message to the ideal type via one of the member terminals 600a, 600b, 600c, • • •, the text message server 415 .allows a message to be inputted and transmits a signd to the web server 411. The instant message server 417 transmits a message that the user will transmit to the ideal type, in instant message form, and transmits an instant message to the web server 411 when the user inputs the message into the instant message server 417. The instant message inputted to the e-mail server 413 and the text message server 415 are transmitted out of tl e ideal type matching service system 300 via the web server 411 and the control means 430. In contrast, in the case of the message input to the instant message server 417, when the member authentication means 310 transmits a signal indicating that the user has accessed the system to the control means 430, .an instant message stored in the message database 364 is displayed on a screen. The matching result server 419 displays matches on the screen, hi this case, as occasion demands, the image of the user or ideal type is displayed in photo or avatar form. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for illustrating the ideal type matching method according to the present invention. When the user accesses the ideal type matching system 300, the member authentication means 310 asks tl e user whether he has registered with the system 300 or not at step S 101. If it is the first access to the system 300, the information input means 330 is made to display information necessary for member registration through the transmission of a sign^ at step SI 03. When the user inputs information necess.ary for the member registration, the information is received and stored in the member information database 352 at step S105. The infomiation input means 330 displays a matching condition input form to request detailed information from the user at step S107. The information about the time when the user parted from the ideal type, information about the location where the user encountered the ideal type, .and information about the appearances of the user and the ideal type, which .are inputted by the user, .are received at step S 109. The inforrnation input means 330 stores the information about the user and the ideal type in the matching condition database 353, and transmits a signal to the control means 430 at step SI 11. When receiving a signal from the information input means 330, the control means 430 transmits a signal to the seeching me.ans 391. The searching means 391 receives the signd, searches for matches between infomiation about ideal types and information about users, and stores matches in the matcliing database 360 at step SI 13. Thereafter, the priority means 397 arranges information in order of priority based on the information stored in the matching database 360, stores the arranged information in the priority database 362, and transmits a signal to the control means 430 at step SI 15. Finally, the matches are displayed at step SI 17. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a priority determination method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The infomiation input means 330 receives information about the location and time at which the user encountered or passed by the ideal type and information about the appearances of the user and the ideal type, which is inputted by the user, at step S201. The information, that is, the conditions for searching for the ideal type desired by the user, is the objective items in which locations, times .and app> ∑ιrances are classified in detail. The information further includes a subjective related story spare in which circumstances under which or sentiments felt when the user encountered his or her ideal type are descritted. However, the related story space does not belong to the matching conditions, and is disclosed at the step at which a highest order match is finally confirmed. Thereafter, the information is stored in the matching condition database 353 at step S202. The primary searching means 393 searches for matches of the location and time information stored in the matching condition database 353 at step S203. The primary searching means 393 inquires whether there is a match as the result of step S203, at step S204. If there is a match of the location and time infomiation, the secondly searching means 395 searches for a match between infomiation about tlie appearances of the user and the ideal type, which has been inputted by the user and stored in the matching condition database 353, and the appearance conditions, which have been inputted by another user and stored in tlie matching condition database 353 at step S205. The matches obtained as the result of the matcliing process are .stored in the matcliing condition database 353 at step S206. Thereafter, the priority me.ans 397 arranges the matches in descending order of the numbers of matches between the conditions stored in the matching database 360 and the conditions for the ided type inputted by the user at step S207. For example, when the number of the items of appearance information other than the location and time information, which is inputted by the user A, is 60, the priority means 397.arranges the matches in descending order of the numbers of matches of tl e 60 items. Finally, the matches are displayed through the notification means 410 at step S208. If, as the result of the matcliing process for the location and time information at step S204, there is no match, the notification means 410 displays that there is no match so that the user could see it at step S208. The reason for this is that, in the case where ideal types do not have a match of location and time information, the ideal types are completely different from each other even though they have a matching of appearance infomiation. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a priority determination method according to another embodiment of the present invention. The information input means 330 receives information about the location and time at which the user encountered or passed by the ideal type .and the appearances of tlie user a d tl e ideal type, which is inputted by the user, at step S301. The information, that is, the conditions for searching for the ideal type desired by the user, is the objective items in which locations, times and appearances are classified in detail. The information further includes a subjective related story space in which circumstances under which or sentiments felt when the user encountered his or her ideal type .are described. However, the related story space does not belong to the matcliing conditions, and is disclosed at the step .at which a highest order match is finally confirmed. Thereafter, the information is stored in the matching condition database 353 at step S302. The primary settling means 393 searches for matches of the location and time information stored in tlie matching condition database 353 at step S303. The primary searching means 393 inquires whether there is a match as tl e result of step S303, at step S304. If there is a match of tl e location and time information, the seconidary searching means 395 searches for matches between information about the user and the ideal type, which is inputted by the user .and stored in the matching condition database 353, and conditions which are inputted by another user .and stored in tiie matching condition database 353 atstep S305. h this case, the location and time information is related to the step at whichmatches of the previous conditions are searched for. The matching conditions are stored in the matching database 360 at step S306. The priority means 397 arranges infomiation in order of priority by applying a simple equation to the irrfomiation stored in the matching database 360 at step S307. For ex.ample, when the number of matching condition items is 60, B+P+N=60. B (Blank) refers to the number of items at least either of the user and tl e ideal type has not entered, .and P (Positive) refers to the number of items that matched by searching means 391 among items that have been entered by both of them. N (Negative) refers to the number of items that does not matched by searching means 391 among items that have been entered by both of them. The searching means 391 obtains B, N and P values at the time of searching for matches. The priorities of a plurality of pieces of infomiation are determined in descending order on the basis of P/(P+N) values, and the priorities of a plurality of pieces of same priority information .are determined in descending order on the basis of P/(P+B) values. The reason for the application of such equations is to systematically perform the entire determination of priorities so as to prepare for the case where tiie amount of infomiation becomes large as ti e number of users who register with the ideal type matching service system 300 increases. Finally, the matching results are displayed through the notification means 410 at step S308. If, as the result of the matching process for the location and time conditions ats .tep S304, there is no match, the notification means 410 displays that there is no match so that the user could see it at step S308. The reason for this is that, in tlie case where there is no match of the same location and time information, an ideal type is completely different from a desired type even though the ideal type having a match of tlie appearance information exists. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a priority determination method according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Tlie information input means 330 receives information about the location and time at which the user encountered or passed by the ideal type and the appearances of the user and the ideal type, which is inputted by the user, at step S401. The information, that is, the conditions for searching for the ideal type desired by the user, is the objective items in which locations, times .and appearances are classified in detail. The information further includes a subjective related story space in which circumstances under which or sentiments felt when the user encountered Ms or her ideal type are described. However, tlie related story space does not belong to tl e matching conditions, and is disclosed at the step at which a highest order match is finally confirmed. Thereafter, the information is stored in the matcliing condition database 353 at step S402. The primary searching means 393 searches for matches of the location and time information stored in the matching condition database 353 at step S403. The primary searching means 393 inquires whether there is a match as t e result of step S403, at step S404. If there is a match of the location and time information, tiie secondary searching means 395 searches for matches between infomiation about the appearances of the user .and the ideal type, which is inputted by the user and stored in the matcliing condition database 353, and the appearance conditions, which axe inputted by another user and stored in the matcliing condition database 353 at step S405. This step is the matching process using the conditions other than the location and the time. The matching conditions obtained as the result of tl e matching process are .stored in the matching database 360 at step S406. In this case, the matching database 360 stores the matching conditions with weights assigned to the specific items. The priority means 397 ananges the matches in order of priority with weights assigned to the specific items stored in the matehing database 360 at step S407. For example, when the number of items of appearance information other than the location and time infomiation, which is inputted by the user A, is 60, more points are given to important items by .assigning weights to the important items. Finally, the matches are displayed through the notification means 410 at step S408. If, .as the result of the matching process for tlie location and time information at step S404, no match is found, the notification means 410 informs tlie user that no match was found at step S408. The reason for this is that, in tlie case where ideal types do not have a match of location and time information, the ideal types are completely different from each other even though they have a match of appearance infomiation. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following ctaims rather than the above detailed description. It must be appreciated that all the modifications and changes derived from the meaning and scope of the ctaims and the equivalents thereof .are included in the scope of tl e present invention. As described above, the present invention .allows the user to search for a desired ideal type when tlie user encounters the ideal type in the subway, a bus or a plane, or walking on tiie street. In the present invention, input spaces are provided to allow the user to input information about the location and time at which the user encountered the ideal type and appearances in detail, so that there is a high probability that the user can accurately find a desired ideal type comp.ared to the existing system.

Claims

1. An ideal type matching service system for a user searching for an ideal type, comprising: information input means for allowing the user to input information about a location and a time at which tlie user encountered the ideal type and information about appearances of the user and tlie ideal type; a database for storing the input information; matching means for searching for matches between information input by tl e user and tiie information stored in the database and determining priorities; notification means for notifying the user and the ideal type of the matches; and control means for managing and controlling the information input me,ans, the database, the matching means and the notification means.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising member authentication means for verifying whether the user is a registered mem. er.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the matching system determines whether a match of the appearance infoπnation exists in the database only if a match of tlie location .and time information exists in tl e database.

4. The system accorcling to claim 1, wherein the notification means uses one of e-mail, short message service or instant messaging.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information input means provides an input space for allowing the user to input a related story regarding the ideal type, the database stores the related story, and the notification means notifies the ideal type of the related story.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information input means provides a message board-type input space for the case the user encountered the ideal type a long time ago or cannot select the location where the user encountered the ideal type, tl e database stores contents of the message board-type input space, and tiie notification means displays the contents of the message bo.ard-rype input .space.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein tlie appearance information includes hairstyle, dress style, shoe style, bag style and accessory style items.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the matching means deterrnines priorities according to descending order of numbers of matches of the iteius.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the matching means assigns points and weights to the predetermined items, .and deterrnines priorities according to descending order of values obtained by multiplying tiie points by the weights with respect to the individual items.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information input means provides a menu to allow tlie user to select tiie location, the time and the appearance.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the information input means provides images to allow tlie user to select the appearance.

12. The system .according to claim 1 , wherein tiie information input means provides avatars to allow the user to select the appearance.

13. An ideal type matching service method for a user searching for the ideal type, comprising the steps of: receiving information about a location and a time at which the user encountered the ideal type and information about appearances of the user and the ideal type; storing the input information in a database; searching for matches between information inputted by the user .and the information stored in the database; determining priorities of the matches; and notifying the user and the ideal type of the matches.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising tlie member authentication step of verifying whether tiie user is a registered member.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein tlie matching step determines whether a match of tl e appearance infomiation exists in the database only if a match of the location and time infomiation exists in tl e database.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the notification step gives notice using one of e-mail, short message service or instant messaging.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information input step additionally receives a related story regarding the ideal type, the database stores the related story, and the notification step notifies the ideal type of tlie related story.

18. The method .according to cl.aim 13, wherein the appearance infomiation includes hairstyle, dress style, shoes style, bag style .and accessory style items.

19. Tlie method according to claim 18, wherein the priority determination step determines priorities according to descending order of numbers of matches of tiie items.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the priority determination step assigns points and weiglits to tl e predetermined items, .and determines priorities .according to descending order of v.alues obtained by multiplying the points by the weights with respect to the individual items.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the priority determination step determines the priorities according to descending order of P/(P+N) v-alues where B is a number of items that at least one of the user and the ideal type did not enter, P is a number of matched items that both of the user .and tiie ideal type have entered and N is a number of items that did not match within the items entered by both.

22. The method .according to claim 21, wherein tlie priority deterrnination step deterrnines tl e priorities according to descending order of P/(P+B) values when a plurality of ideal types having identical P(P+ ) values exist.