Matching tools for use in attribute-based performance systems

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to matching user attributes. In one exemplary implementation, the system and methods may store predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally, receive personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user, receive a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor, compare at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match, and calculate a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings. In addition, first and second display points may be displayed and may be separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.

1 . A computer-readable storage medium having instructions which, when executed on a processor, perform a method for matching user attributes, the method comprising:
 storing predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally;   receiving personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user;   receiving a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor;   comparing at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match;   calculating a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings; and   displaying a first indicator corresponding to the first user at a first display point and displaying a second indicator corresponding to the second user at a second display point, wherein the first and second display points are separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein each personal attribute descriptor is associated with a respective attribute category, and wherein the method further includes:
 determining a match if the personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user is the same as the personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user and both descriptors are associated with a common category.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein calculating a match further includes:
 calculating a match score for only personal attribute descriptors associated with the selected category.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the match score further includes:
 calculating a match ratio based on a total number of determined descriptor matches in proportion to a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users; and   calculating the match score based on the match ratio.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the match score further includes:
 weighting the match score by a match weight value to account for different ratings of the personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein weighting the match score further includes:
 summing the match weight values for each descriptor match to determine a summed match weight value; and   calculating a total match weight value based on the summed match weight value and a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying further includes:
 displaying the first and second display points in an attribute proximity display which displays multiple user indicators in one-dimensional relation to the first indicator corresponding to the first user and at respective one-dimensional distances defined by the respective calculated match scores.   
     
     
         8 . A system for matching user attributes comprising:
 means for storing predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally;   means for receiving personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user;   means for receiving a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor;   means for comparing at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match;   means for calculating a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings; and   means for displaying a first indicator corresponding to the first user at a first display point and displaying a second indicator corresponding to the second user at a second display point, wherein the first and second display points are separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each personal attribute descriptor is associated with a respective attribute category, and wherein the system further includes:
 means for determining a match if the personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user is the same as the personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user and both descriptors are associated with a common category.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the means for calculating a match further includes:
 means for calculating a match score for only personal attribute descriptors associated with the selected category.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for calculating the match score further includes:
 means for calculating a match ratio based on a total number of determined descriptor matches in proportion to a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users; and   means for calculating the match score based on the match ratio.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for calculating the match score further includes:
 means for weighting the match score by a match weight value to account for different ratings of the personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for weighting the match score further includes:
 means for summing the match weight values for each descriptor match to determine a summed match weight value; and   means for calculating a total match weight value based on the summed match weight value and a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for displaying further includes:
 means for displaying the first and second display points in an attribute proximity display which displays multiple user indicators in one-dimensional relation to the first indicator corresponding to the first user and at respective one-dimensional distances defined by the respective calculated match scores.   
     
     
         15 . A method for matching user attributes, the method comprising:
 storing predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally;   receiving personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user;   receiving a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor;   comparing at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match;   calculating a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings; and   displaying a first indicator corresponding to the first user at a first display point and displaying a second indicator corresponding to the second user at a second display point, wherein the first and second display points are separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each personal attribute descriptor is associated with a respective attribute category, and wherein the method further includes:
 determining a match if the personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user is the same as the personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user and both descriptors are associated with a common category; and   calculating a match score for only personal attribute descriptors associated with the selected category.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein calculating the match score further includes:
 calculating a match ratio based on a total number of determined descriptor matches in proportion to a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users; and   calculating the match score based on the match ratio.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein calculating the match score further includes:
 weighting the match score by a match weight value to account for different ratings of the personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein weighting the match score further includes:
 summing the match weight values for each descriptor match to determine a summed match weight value; and   calculating a total match weight value based on the summed match weight value and a total number of personal attribute descriptors associated with the first and second users.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the displaying further includes:
 displaying the first and second display points in an attribute proximity display which displays multiple user indicators in one-dimensional relation to the first indicator corresponding to the first user and at respective one-dimensional distances defined by the respective calculated match scores.