WO2007065164A2 - Character navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method is provided that provides information (such as travel information for a destination) to a consumer such that the information provided is targeted towards the consumer's criteria. The information is targeted to the consumer based upon the 'personality' of a character that is selected by the consumer. The user can toggle between different characters to view different information that would correspond to different criteria for characters having differing personalities. The characters used by the consumer can be preset, custom developed by the consumer, or created by other consumers using the system.

Description

CHARACTER NAVIGATION SYSTEM

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/741418, filed December 1, 2005, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/803114, filed May 24, 2006 the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is broadly concerned with methods and systems for providing information (such as travel information) to consumers. More particularly, the invention is concerned with methods and systems for providing information to consumers such that unique information is provided to the consumer based upon the "personality" of a character that is selected by the consumer.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Many websites currently exist that provide prospective travelers information for planning a trip. A consumer may search the web to locate information regarding hotels, restaurants, transportation, attractions, etc. at a desired travel destination. The consumer then uses that information to decide where the consumer will stay, where they will eat, what attractions or events they will visit or attend, etc. This requires the consumer to sift through all of the information available and select from the various options based upon the consumer's criteria, such as the particular consumer's budget, personality, likes, dislikes, reasons for travel, etc. This can be very time consuming and overwhelming to the prospective traveler. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a way to present information to the consumer that already meets or is targeted towards the consumer's criteria for the particular destination. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the instant invention is to provide a system and methods that present information to a consumer that meets general criteria of, or is targeted towards, the consumer. Another object of the invention is to allow the consumer to quickly and easily change the consumer's criteria for the information that is to be presented. Another object of the invention is to provide information to a consumer based upon the "personality" of a character that is selected by the consumer. Still another object of the invention is to provide information to a consumer based upon the "personality" of a character that is selected by the consumer and where the consumer can choose a "personality" that is preset, custom made, or made by another consumer. Yet another object of the invention is to provide travel information to a prospective traveler based upon the "personality" of a character that is selected by the prospective traveler on a travel website. Another object of the invention is to provide a way for a consumer to quantitatively compare its own preferences to information and/or recommendations that are provided to the consumer.

[0005] The above described objects are accomplished through the use of a travel information website that uses a character navigation system and a custom display based upon a character profile. This unique system allows each user to experience the website from different virtual personalities. In one embodiment, the characters include preset profiles that, when chosen, change all of the options available on the travel website to reflect that character's personality. In one embodiment, some of the design elements on the website will change as well (e.g. background color or scenery, color scheme, arrangement, etc.). The preset characters include a variety of personality ranges with a corresponding active-link icon for each character. In another embodiment, the users are given an option of creating their own character, or logging in to an existing character (i.e. a character that the user has already created). In another embodiment, the users are given the option of selecting a character that has been custom built by other users of the website. On every page on the website of the instant invention the user is given the option of toggling/switching between characters. Switching characters re-shuffles all of the preferences and results on the page based upon the particular preferences of the selected character.

[0006] In an embodiment in which users can create their own characters, the users are given the option to use any character as a jumping off point for their own personal characters. The users will inherit all of the character's attributes and any subsequent activity by the user will modify the profile. The attributes collected in a profile are what constitute a character. Profiles are comprised of a number of different pieces of data. These pieces of data can be user entered preferences (Thai food, four star hotels, skiing), user site behavior (what the user looks at on the site, how long they spend on pages, how frequently they look), and specific user ratings and reviews (the user is able to rate all of the various restaurants, hotels, attractions, etc. described on the website from 1-100).

[0007] In an embodiment in which users are given the option of selecting a character that has been custom built by other users of the website, users that create custom characters have the option of allowing their characters to be publicly accessible to all other users, or to a select group of users (i.e. "buddies" of the user) that can access the characters. A user's "buddies" are other users that are either invited by the user that created the profile to share the user's profile, or that invite the user to share those other users' profiles (or request that the user share its profile).

[0008] The use of preset characters allows users without their own profiles to experience the uniqueness of the site. Once a person has experienced the site it encourages users to build their own characters. Characters are a very non-invasive way to pull people into site participation.

[0009] Users on a preferred website of the instant invention are allowed to create profiles that can encompass a large number of preference, favorites, trips and photos. In one embodiment, this information allows the website to give its users unprecedented comparative analysis to help them determine how "alike" they are with other members of the website community. The various preferences of the user are compared to the various preferences of another character or user and a "lifestyle percentage match" is calculated. Lifestyle percentage matches may be an overall match that is a combination of all (or any number of) preferences, or may be specific for a particular item (i.e. hotels or restaurants). In addition, the user can toggle between various match options (i.e. overall vs. particular item, or any combination of items) as desired by the user. This lifestyle percentage match of the instant invention allows a user to better evaluate information (i.e. recommendations or reviews) provided by other users in a more objective manner by taking into account how alike the user looking for information is to the user providing the information.

[0010] The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention and various features thereof. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention in connection with a travel website containing information about Paris, France.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a sample screen shot of the website of Fig. 1 with a first character selected by a system user.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a sample screen shot of the website of Fig. 1 with a different character selected than that shown in Fig. 2.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a sample screen shot of a character profile summary for the character selected in Fig. 3.

[0016] Fig. 5 is a sample screen shot of a pop up tool window of a website of the present invention showing a listing of preset characters and custom characters.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a sample screen shot of a pop up tool window of the website of Fig. 5 detailing how to change from one character to another.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a sample screen shot of a pop up tool window of the website of Fig. 5 detailing how to change from one character to another.

[0019] Fig. 8 is a sample screen shot of a website of the present invention in which a user is obtaining information about New York based on information from a selected character.

[0020] Fig. 9 is a sample screen shot of a website of the present invention showing a lifestyle percentage match being utilized in the context of a review of a hotel. [0021] Fig. 10 is a sample screen shot of a website of the present invention showing various lifestyle percentage matches with the user's character and other users/characters.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[0022] As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the principles of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of a travel information website that uses a character navigation system and a custom display based upon a character profile. The navigation system of the preferred embodiments is a web-based computer program located on a computer server that is connected to the internet. The server is accessed by one or more clients (such as a site user's home computer, etc.) via the internet. The navigation system receives and processes client requests and character profile information and then creates and/or displays the custom display in the form of a webpage that is transmitted to the client and that includes or is created from or using information stored in one or more databases located on, connected to, accessed by, or otherwise associated with the server. As will be discussed in further detail below, the character profile information may be stored in a database located on the server, connect to the server, accessed by the server or otherwise associated by the server. It will be appreciated that a portion of a character's profile information may be stored at one location, while another portion may be stored at another location. For example, a portion of a character's profile information may be stored as a cookie on a user's client machine, while another portion is stored on the server. In addition, it will be appreciated that different character's profile information (or portions thereof) may be stored at different locations. For example, preset character profiles (discussed below) may be stored on the server, while custom character profiles (discuss below) might be stored on a user's client machine.

[0024] The character navigation system of a preferred embodiment allows each user to experience the website from different virtual personalities or character profiles. The profiles may be preset system profiles, or may be created/customized by the user. Each webpage viewed by a user includes multiple unique profiles (in the form of active-link icons on the page) that, when chosen by the user, cause the character navigation system computer program to change all of the options available on the travel website to reflect the selected character's personality (i.e. hotel choices, restaurant choices, attractions, events, etc.) by using the character profile information for the selected character. Some of the design elements on the website will change as well (e.g. background color or scenery, color scheme, arrangement, etc.).

[0025] The preset characters of a preferred embodiment include a variety of personality ranges, e.g. from Joe Billionaire, to Elvis impersonator, to hippie, to family of four. An icon in the upper corner of the screen of each webpage represents each character. In another embodiment, the users are given the option of selecting a preset character as described above, and also given the option of creating their own character, or logging in to an existing character (i.e. a character that the user has already created by saving customized character profile information). In another embodiment, the users are given the option of selecting a character that has been custom built by other users of the website. In the preferred embodiment, users that create custom characters have the option of allowing their characters to be publicly accessible to all other users, or to a select group of users (i.e. "buddies" of the user) that are either invited by the user that created the profile to share the user's profile, or that invite the user to share those other users' profiles (or request that the user share its profile). On every page on the website the user is given the option of toggling/switching between various characters.

[0026] Switching characters re-shuffles all of the preferences, information and results on the web page displayed to the user. For example, a user selects Joe Billionaire and decides to look at New York. The character navigation system computer program loads The New York page utilizing the Joe Billionaire character profile information. The first web page displayed could include such categories as Hotels, Restaurants, and Attractions. The five-featured hotels selected by the computer program based upon the Joe Billionaire character profile information might be The Plaza, The Four Seasons, The Ritz, The Carlyle, and the Waldorf Astoria. The three-featured restaurants might be Daniel, Jean-Georges, and The Four Seasons. The three- featured attractions might be the Met, The Frick Collection, and Private Helicopter Tours. The colors of the Joe Billionaire profile on the web pages are platinum and black. There could be New York City textual overview on this page that reflects Joe Billionaire's tastes as well as his vocabulary and style. In a preferred embodiment, the consumer views a video footage of an actor delivering a custom message targeted toward a user that has interests that correspond to the Joe Billionaire profile. In this embodiment, the actor might be dressed as a butler that greets the user with an introduction to the New York page tailored to Joe Billionaire.

[0027] If the user desires, he/she can select a different character to change the information that is provided to the user. For example, the user may decide to see New York as the character Average Joe. He uses his mouse to select the character icon/link for Average Joe. The whole New York page then changes to reflect Average Joe's New York. The character navigation system loads the Average Joe's New York page utilizing the Average Joe character profile information. The colors displayed by the computer program based upon the Average Joe character profile information might be red and blue. The hotels might be the Marriott Times Square and the Holiday Inn. The Restaurants might be ESPN Zone and Cheesecake Factory. The attractions might be the New York Yankees, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park. The New York City overview is tailored to Average Joe's preferences and language type. The actor that appears might be overweight with a New York Jets jersey and a hot dog in his hand.

[0028] The attributes collected in a profile and stored as the character profile information are what constitute a character. Profiles are comprised of a number of different pieces of data. These pieces of data can be user entered preferences (Thai food, four star hotels, skiing), user site behavior (i.e. what the user looks at on the website, how long they spend on pages, how frequently they look - also could be obtained from cookies stored on the user's client machine by other websites), and specific user ratings and reviews (the user is able to rate all of the various restaurants, hotels, attractions, etc. described on the website from 1-100).

[0029] The system created characters of a preferred embodiment are created in three phases.

[0030] In the first phase the characters are defined by default settings that are stored in a database to be accessed by the character navigation system computer program. For example, Joe Millionaire is set to only be shown information about 5 star hotels, very expensive dining options, and art museums. Average Joe is set to 3 star hotels, chain restaurants, and professional football.

[0031] The second phase involves editors choosing specifically what displays for each character in each city. Instead of five star hotels in general, the editor selects which five star hotels and so on. The editor's selections for each character are stored for access by the character navigation system computer program. It will be appreciated that the information stored in the character profile can be specific information regarding the selections made by the editors (i.e. photos and textual information about the specific hotel), or alternatively, the information stored in the character profile may be a link, pointer or other reference to information regarding the selections made by the editors.

[0032] The third phase involves the computer program interpreting relationships between the user profiles of the user base, characters and products, and between products and products. By taking the editors' choices for each character and comparing them with other actual users who liked the same things (such as by utilizing stored user ratings accessed by the computer program), the system then predicts what the character would like. These correlations are performed in a similar manner to that well known in websites such as Amazon.com that suggest products to its users based upon a user's activity or user profile on the website.

[0033] Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention in connection with a travel site containing information about Paris France. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the user starts out on the "Paris Page" 10 of the website. The user may have landed on Paris Page 10 of the website directly from a web search engine such as Google, or may have been directed to the Paris Page from a home page of the website of the invention. If the user has been directed from the home page for the website, the user may have already selected a character on the prior page, and Paris Page 10 is customized to that specific character. If however, the user has not already selected a character, the user selects a character from various characters 20 offered on the Paris Page. Also, if a character has already been selected the user may toggle between pages for various characters 20.

[0034] After a character is selected the elements 30 of the page, i.e. links 38, color scheme, background, etc. are matched to the character profile by the character navigation system computer program. The user selects from a variety of pages or links 38 to view specific information about Paris. The user can see for example an overview of Paris, featured attractions, hotels, etc.

[0035] When the user selects a particular link (or if particular information is to be presented on the page), a number of determining factors 40 stored in the character profile information are used by the character navigation system to select the particular information that is displayed. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, with respect to character A (Average Joe), determining factors include Favorites, Descriptors, User Hotel Rating, and Contains Photo. It will be appreciated that different and/or additional determining factors may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

[0036] Favorites are either favorites that have been assigned by an editor, or by the user himself. These might include the user's favorite hotels, as shown in Fig. 1. If favorites are assigned, the website displays the favorites as "featured" (i.e. featured hotels 50) to the user for selection. If no favorites are assigned, or if the page contains room for additional feature information after favorites are used, featured information may be selected based on other determining factors.

[0037] First, as shown in Fig. 1, additional hotels are selected based upon the descriptor term "budget" which has been assigned to User A. This looks for hotels that are classified as "budget" hotels by the website of the invention. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the website displays (has room for) three hotels total; however, two hotels are already required to be displayed because they are favorites. Since three hotels are classified as "budget", additional determining factors must be used to narrow down to one option.

[0038] The next factor is the user rating. In the example for User A in Fig. 1, the user rating is identical for all hotels (i.e. 91), thus the next descriptor must be utilized. This is Contains Photo; as only one hotel contains a photo, that hotel is determined to be included as the third featured hotel 50 displayed on the website.

[0039] Fig. 1 also shows the selection process for displaying featured hotels for Character D (socialite). As is shown there are two favorites, Descriptors are "Romantic" and "Five Star". With respect to Character D, shown in Fig. 1, the third hotel is selected based upon user rating. Although determining factors are not shown with respect to Characters B (family of 4) and C (food oriented), in Fig. 1 , similar factors are utilized for each of those characters and will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that an endless number of character options may be offered, and are not limited to the four characters (A, B, C, D) described herein.

[0040] Figs. 2 through 4 show sample screen shots of a website of the instant invention that has utilized the above process and then displays the outcome results to the user. Details about the vacation destination, the featured hotels, related articles, interesting points and the type of character that has been used are displayed. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, two alternate displays of Paris Page 10 are shown for two different character profiles selected by a user by toggling characters 20. Each of Paris Page 10 includes different featured hotels 50 and different elements 30 of the page, i.e.- links 38 result in different information, different color scheme, different background picture displayed, different textual information describing Paris, different suggested readings/related articles about Paris, etc. Referring to Fig. 4, a webpage is shown that describes some personality attributes of the character for which the Paris Page 10 shown in Fig. 3 is generated.

[0041] As is discussed above, the character navigation system of a preferred embodiment allows users to select from a set of pre-built characters or from characters that are custom built by the user. Every page includes icons that allow the user to quickly toggle between characters to change the information and design elements of the page to suit the particular character. Although the website may include a large number of different character profiles that are either preset or custom built by the user (such as tens or hundreds of character options), each page typically includes a more limited number of active-link icons (such as four) that are selected by the user (or the website) as that user's top character choices.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the choices of characters that may be selected as a user's top character choices include the preset characters and the characters custom-built by the user, and in addition include characters that have been custom built by other users of the website. In a preferred embodiment, users that create custom characters have the option of allowing their characters to be publicly accessible to all other users, or to a select group of users (i.e. "buddies" of the user) that are either invited by the user that created the profile to share the user's profile, or that invite the user to share those other users' profiles (or request the user to share its profile).

[0043] The character navigation system of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention can be augmented by any system user by allowing users to select from a set of pre- built system characters, the user's custom character(s), or from the user's "buddies" (other system members) through a "view lifestyles" pop-up window. This mechanism allows a user to populate the 4 character slots that will be displayed in the character navigation system located on each web page with any of the system characters, the user's custom characters or the custom characters of the user's buddies that can be accessed by the character navigation system.

[0044] There are three steps to modify one of the four character slots (thereby modifying the character icons displayed on all web pages of a preferred embodiment of the invention). First, the user clicks on a "view more lifestyles" link (or other similar link that directs the user to select character profiles) on the webpage in which the user is located. Referring to Fig. 5, a pop up tool window 60 displays four character slots (1-4) at the top of window 60. Window 60 displays preset lifestyles 70 with individual preset characters 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, and 79 respectively. Window 60 also displays the user's list of "buddies'" custom made characters 80 that are made by another user. The user may organize different buddies' characters 80 by storing and sorting the characters by various lists 82 (such as golf buddies, ski buddies, work buddies, all buddies, etc.). Window 60 also displays the user's own custom characters (if created).

[0045] In step two, the user chooses one of the four character slots (1-4) by selecting the slot with the user's mouse. This primes the slot for promoting a new character or buddy to this position in the character navigation menu. Referring to Fig. 6, slot 1 has been selected by the user and is highlighted and ready for replacement by another character.

[0046] Finally, the user selects any buddy's or other character available, and by selecting it with the user's mouse the user updates the slot selected in step 2. The character profile selected will be stored for access by the navigation system computer program. The character slot arrangement selected by a particular user, as well as the user's buddy lists and other profile information is stored in a database that is accessed by the computer program so that information will be available whenever the user returns to or logs into the website. Referring to Fig. 7, the user has selected a character "kelly" 82 from list of buddies 80 to be located in slot 1.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, each custom character includes an icon representative of the character, this can be a photo or other image that is uploaded or otherwise selected by the user that creates the character profile. At this point the user can simply click an OK button 90 and the selected character is promoted to the slot the user chose on the main character navigation bar so that the user can use that character to obtain information that is targeted to that character's preferences in the manner discussed above. Otherwise, by clicking Cancel or close button 92 the computer program simply returns the character menu to the state it was in before the user opened the lifestyle selection tool.

[0048] Once OK button 90 is selected, the last promoted character or buddy is selected and the page is refreshed to reflect that character's/ buddy's recommendations. Referring to Fig. 8, a New York web page 100 shows the new characters selected, including "kelly" character 84 at the top of the page. When "kelly" character 84 is selected or toggled by the user, web page 100 shows what information has been picked for "kelly" character 84, in this case in New York City, in display window 110. Display window 110 includes information and links to options such as restaurants 112, outdoor activities 114, available shopping 116 and a map 118 of the area, all of which are displayed by the computer program based upon the character profile information for "kelly" character 84.

[0049] This feature of the invention allows users to toggle between profiles for its buddies, such that the user may select a particular buddy profile that the user believes will provide useful information for the particular trip the user is planning. For example, the user may select a buddy that the user believes has similar tastes of the user, or that the user believes has superior knowledge of or experience in the particular travel destination. This allows the user to see the travel destination through the eyes of the user's buddy and see what hotels, restaurants, events, etc. the buddy would prefer.

[0050] In another embodiment, the user may use a buddy's profile to create or modify the user's own custom profile. In such an embodiment, the user uses the buddy's profile as a jumping off point or starting point. The user starts with the buddies profile and modifies that profile to more appropriately reflect the user's own preferences.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, a user may create buddy groups in which travel plans are made for an entire group together. In such case the profiles of all the buddies in the group are averaged or processed together to create preferences for travel, food, lodging, event, etc. planning for the group as a whole. The profiles of multiple buddies are processed together in a similar manner in which the preferences for a single user are processed to create the recommendations for the user. For example, a group of people desiring to go on a golf trip to Florida will each create their own profile or character on the website. Each of those characters will be combined into a buddy group and the profiles will be combined together to obtain suggestions for hotels, restaurants, golf course, etc. that will best suit the preferences of all of the members of the group as a whole. If certain members have preferences that make specific choices impossible (i.e. one member is allergic to fish), those choices (i.e. sushi restaurants) will not be recommended for the group.

[0052] Users of the website of the instant invention described above are allowed to create and store profiles that can encompass a large number of preferences, favorites, trips and photos. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this information is used by the website to give its users unprecedented comparative analysis to help them determine how "alike" they are with other members of the website community. In a preferred embodiment the various preferences of the user is compared by the computer program to the various preferences of another character or user and a "lifestyle percentage match" is calculated.

[0053] A good example of how this is accomplished is described in the context of user reviews. On traditional travel websites, when a user reviews a hotel, restaurant or attraction, the traveler viewing this review has no idea who the reviewer is, what they like or don't like, and whether the review is real or not. By using the predictive interest technology of the instant invention to compare users to users the computer program of the instant invention provides to users some insight into how "important" a particular review is.

[0054] For example, User A is really into five-star hotels and only enjoys the best things that money can buy. User A is reading a review of a hotel in a city he has never been to and sees a review written by User B, who has told the system in his profile that he primarily stays in youth hostels and campgrounds. The preferences set by User A in User A's profile are compared by the computer program with the preferences set by User B in User B's profile to create a mathematical comparison as to how similar User A and User B are to each other (for example, if both user's hate art, they might be 100% similar or compatible with respect to that particular preference; if one user likes 5 star hotels and the other likes youth hostiles, they may be 0% similar with respect to that particular preference; in an embodiment of this example an overall similarity can be calculated by averaging together or otherwise processing together all preferences to obtain an overall lifestyle percentage match). If User B has rated a hotel as being a 100 out of 100, but the lifestyle percentage match shows him as being only 10% like User A because of the large discrepancy in their likes and dislikes, the review by User B may not be very useful to User A. This provides User A with a much more complete picture of what the reviewer is like and tells User A that maybe this hotel will not be a 100 out of 100 to him. It will be appreciated that the numerical value of similarity between two users may be determined in a variety of manners now known or hereinafter developed and may fall anywhere between 0 and 100, or anywhere on any scale use (i.e. between 1 and 10, 0 and 50, 1 and 1000, etc.). In addition it will be appreciated that the differential of decrease or increase in similarity between different lifestyle preferences between two users may vary depending upon the particular type of preference being compared.

[0055] Reviews of all things are completely subjective, and the predictive technology of the instant invention makes reviews more meaningful to users by putting them in perspective in terms of both the reviewers' interests/ preferences and the user's interests/ preferences. The instant invention also allows users to only see reviews that meet a certain lifestyle percentage match threshold.

[0056] Referring to Fig. 9, a web page 140 displays the details of a particular hotel which can include the address, the average rating, photos, pricing, etc. A user review 150 is displayed that includes the rating and review of another user. A lifestyle percentage match 160 is displayed so that the user can use the lifestyle percentage match 160 when making a decision about the hotel and determining the value of the other user's review.

[0057] Referring to Fig. 10, in another preferred embodiment, on a user's mybuddies display 170, the instant invention also shows lifestyle percentage matches for each buddy of a user. For example, the user's lifestyle percentage match 172 with buddy "ajones" is 70.73%, and the user's lifestyle percentage match 174 with buddy "haonusa" is 74.84%. The user can utilize this lifestyle match when making decisions about traveling and whether or not to utilize preferences and/or recommendations of the user's buddies or whether to utilize one of the user's buddy's character profiles.

[0058] Lifestyle percentage matches may be an overall match that is a combination of all (or any number of) preferences, or may be specific for a particular item. The lifestyle percentage match may be a straight average, a complex weighted combination of preferences, or some other complex formulation. For example in which the match is specific for a particular item, such as a hotel, when a user is looking at reviews for a hotel, the lifestyle percentage match may only show the percentage of similarity between the user and the reviewer with respect to their respective preferences for hotels, and not take into account other preferences such as restaurants, events, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the user may chose to either match by specific items, or overall preferences, and may toggle between each match option as desired. In another preferred embodiment, the computer program may chose to default to either match by specific item or by overall preferences based upon the particular item being compared.

[0059] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the inventions is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

[0060] Although the foregoing detailed description of the present invention has been described by reference to an exemplary embodiment, and the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that certain changes, modification or variations may be made in embodying the above invention, and in the construction thereof, other than those specifically set forth herein, may be achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such changes, modification or variations are to be considered as being within the overall scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention and any and all changes, modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall with in the true spirit and scope of the underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. Consequently, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the attached claims, all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0061] Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the invention is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.

[0062] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system, that presents information that meets general criteria of or is targeted towards a system user, said system comprising: an information display; and a plurality of character profiles displayed on said information display for selection by the user.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said each of said character profiles includes different preferences.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein selection of a first character profile will display information on said information display based upon preferences of said first character profile.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein selection of a second character profile subsequent to selection of said first character profile will change the information displayed on said information display to display information based upon preferences of said second character profile.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user can switch between different of said plurality of character profiles to display different information on said information display.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of character profiles each represent a different personality of a potential user of the system.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of character profiles is a pre-programmed profile.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of character profiles is a custom built profile.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said custom built profile is created by another user of the system.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said custom built profile is located on a buddy list of the user.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a view lifestyles menu for the user to view additional character profiles.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a lifestyle match feature that compares preferences of a character profile selected by a user to another character profile.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said lifestyle match feature provides a numerical value to represent the comparison made.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein information generated by the system and displayed on said information display comprises travel information.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information display comprises a webpage.