Ocean Tomo to Sell Highly-Cited Social Networking Patent at Live IP Auction on October 30th in Chicago
Patented System Provides Method for Dynamically Matching Defined Users of a Group Communication System
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ocean Tomo Auctions today announced a fundamental patent relating to
social networking technology, US 6,480,885, will be placed on the
auction block at the Chicago Cultural Center on October 30th,
2008. Inventor Michael Olivier developed the ‘885
patent and launched the www.Local2Me.com
social networking site after successfully connecting his one-square-mile
San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood via an emailing list. The patent
will be offered as Lot 22 at The Ocean Tomo Fall 2008 Live IP Auction.
This ‘885 patent, which is referenced by 68
other patents and has priority dating to 1998, discloses a method of
enabling new group communication applications derived from large user
bases via both online services and on portable electronic communication
devices.
The system establishes acceptance criteria that define what user
characteristics are desired; gathers matching acceptance criteria from
user profiles; and calculates the degree of match between a user’s
profile data and the acceptance criteria of all the other users in the
database. When the system receives a communication from the primary
user, the message data is then made available to the other users in the
targeted subgroup.
“It’s a novel and
highly scalable approach that creates valuable communications channels
from large user bases by matching their criteria and profile data to
form affinity groups. This enables organizations to leverage their
databases, increase the effectiveness of communication for their
clients, and improve their behavioral targeting,”
Olivier said. “From a user perspective, it
simplifies the process of exchanging information with nearby or
like-minded people,” he added.
This technology can extend to any sort of group-based communication,
including, but not limited to: email, discussion boards, SMS/MMS,
advertising, voicemails, chat, and instant messaging. It has
applications in fields such as social networking, advertising networks,
mobile communication, consumer research, market research, and online
games.
“Ocean Tomo is extremely excited to offer
this Lot from such a dynamic industry in the Fall Auction. The early
priority date – before the real boom of
social networking and location-aware mobile devices –
as well as its innovative methods for connecting like-minded users,
makes it an extremely valuable asset to own,”
said Andrew T. Ramer, President of Ocean Tomo Auctions.
For more information on Lot 22, or to register to bid or attend the
Ocean Tomo Fall 2008 Live IP Auction, please call 312.377.4851, email auctions@oceantomo.com
or visit www.OceanTomoAuctions.com.
About Ocean Tomo Auctions:
Ocean Tomo Auctions has received global recognition as the leader in
the live auctioning of intellectual property assets for some of the world’s
largest and most established companies. Hundreds of key decision makers
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the United States.
Ocean Tomo
Wendy Chou, 718.812.6707
wchou@oceantomo.com