METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF RECIPROCAL INTERESTS OR FEELINGS AND SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION

A method and apparatus for automating the process of confidentially determining whether people feel mutual attraction or have mutual interests and for automating the process of notifying the people involved of such a match in feelings or interests, while allowing anonymity if no mutual attraction or interests exist. A computer system receives inputs from various persons indicating the identities of persons for whom they feel attraction or with whom they share mutual interests. The system collects this information and periodically searches for matches, i.e., for mutual attractions or interests that have been entered into the system. No notification occurs unless the system determines that a match in attraction or interests exists. If a first person's feelings or interests are not mirrored by a second person, the system will not notify either person and only the computer system will be aware of the first person's feelings for the second person.