Online dating service providing response status tracking for a service subscriber

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards enabling a user to track the status of communication with other users in an online dating environment. Each user in the online dating environment can predefine a current status of availability and/or interest in receiving communications from other users in the online dating environment. When a communication is received, a predefined message is returned indicating the predefined status, such as “currently dating someone.” In addition or alternatively, each user can provide an interim response to received communications, giving the requesters some indication of a level of interest in further communication. An interim response can include a request for additional information about potential suitor, an indication that more time is required to think about a dating request, an indication that a user is definitely, or definitely not, interested in further communication. Requests and responses can be communicated via email, IM, SMS, or other forms.

1 . A method for tracking a status of a user, comprising: 
 determining whether a first user specified a predefined status of availability within an online dating environment; and    if the first user specified the predefined status, automatically providing an indication of the predefined status of the first user to a second user in response to a message from the second user to the first user in the online dating environment.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined status indicates at least one of an availability and an interest in further communication in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the second user to identify the first user in the online dating environment prior to communication of the message from the second user to the first user.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the first user to provide an interim response to the message from the second user.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the interim response indicates a level of interest in further communication with the second user.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the interim response comprises at least one of a request for additional information about the second user, an indication that the first user desires time to think about further communication with the second user, an indication that the first user is not interested in further communication with the second user, and an indication that the first user is interested in further communication with the second user.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the indication and enabling the second user to track the indication with a plurality of other indications from other users.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the message in a thread of communication between the first user and the second user.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling at least one of the first user and the second user to enter a note in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the first user to communicate an evaluation of the second user to the second user in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: 
 the first user employing a mobile device to specify the predefined status in the online dating environment; and    the second user employing a mobile device to communicate with the first user in the online dating environment.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message comprises at least one of an email message, an instant message, and a short message service (SMS) message.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining that the first user identified the second user in the online dating environment and the first user indicated an interest in the second user prior to communication of the message from the second user to the first user; and    notifying the first user and the second user of a mutual interest.    
   
   
       14 . A system for tracking a status of a user, comprising: 
 a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;    a processor in communication with the transceiver; and    a memory in communication with the processor and storing data and machine instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including: 
 determining whether a first user specified a predefined status of availability within an online dating environment; and  
 if the first user specified the predefined status, automatically providing an indication of the predefined status of the first user to a second user in response to a message from the second user to the first user in the online dating environment.  
   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined status indicates at least one of an availability and an interest in further communication in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the second user to identify the first user in the online dating environment prior to communication of the message from the second user to the first user.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the first user to provide an interim response to the message from the second user.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the interim response indicates a level of interest in further communication with the second user.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the interim response comprises at least one of a request for additional information about the second user, an indication that the first user desires time to think about further communication with the second user, an indication that the first user is not interested in further communication with the second user, and an indication that the first user is interested in further communication with the second user.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of storing the indication and enabling the second user to track the indication with a plurality of other indications from other users.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of storing the message in a thread of communication between the first user and the second user.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling at least one of the first user and the second user to enter a note in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the first user to communicate an evaluation of the second user to the second user in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the message comprises at least one of an email message, an instant message, and a short message service (SMS) message.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operations of: 
 determining that the first user identified the second user in the online dating environment and the first user indicated an interest in the second user prior to communication of the message from the second user to the first user; and    notifying the first user and the second user of a mutual interest.    
   
   
       26 . A client device that is configured for use in tracking a status of a user, comprising: 
 a display;    a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;    a processor in communication with the display and the transceiver; and    a memory in communication with the processor and storing data and machine instructions that causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including: 
 enabling a first user to specify a predefined status within an online dating environment;  
 receiving a message from a second user who identified the first user in the online dating environment; and  
 enabling the first user to provide an interim response to the message from the second user in the online dating environment, wherein the interim response is one of in addition to, and alternative to a predefined message associated with the predefined status specified by the first user.  
   
   
   
       27 . The client device of  claim 26 , wherein the client device further comprises a mobile device.  
   
   
       28 . The client device of  claim 26 , wherein the interim response indicates a level of interest in further communication with the second user.  
   
   
       29 . The client device of  claim 26 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of storing the message in a thread of communication between the first user and the second user.  
   
   
       30 . The client device of  claim 26 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the first user to enter a note associated with the second user in the online dating environment.  
   
   
       31 . The client device of  claim 26 , wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the first user to communicate an evaluation of the second user to the second user in the online dating environment.