METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING LOCATION SENSITIVE BUSINESS INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS
First Claim
1. A system for generating business information for a customer, the system comprising:
- (a)a geo-indexed database including information on a plurality of businesses;
(b)a logic processing unit through which each business in the database is assigned to a business category and for associating criteria to each business category; and
(c)a customer interface to the logic processing unit for allowing a customer to enter a search request to locate a business within a selected business category, the logic processing unit determining the appropriate information to be gathered from the customer and generating a list of businesses based on the business category selected by the customer.
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Abstract
A multi-modal system and method for providing automated directory assistance that can be personalized, and provide current information and promotions from a variety of businesses customers in need of goods and services that can be location sensitive. The multi-modal system can contain a database where business information can be categorized using parameters such as location sensitivity to make dialogs between customers and the system more efficient and valuable. Search results can be presented to customers using algorithms that prioritize the results using weighting schemes based on factors comprising for example proximity, relevancy, location, availability of promotions, and accessibility, and that randomize the prioritized results. The system abstracts the interface to this contact point, allowing businesses and customers to use different types of communication devices, including voice, messaging, web, and wap. Electronic marketing systems such as embedded customer relationship management, e-coupons, e-notifications, and location based services can also be included.
155 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A system for generating business information for a customer, the system comprising:
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(a)a geo-indexed database including information on a plurality of businesses;
(b)a logic processing unit through which each business in the database is assigned to a business category and for associating criteria to each business category; and
(c)a customer interface to the logic processing unit for allowing a customer to enter a search request to locate a business within a selected business category, the logic processing unit determining the appropriate information to be gathered from the customer and generating a list of businesses based on the business category selected by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multi-modal system to provide contact between a business and a customer comprising:
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(a)a geo-indexed database including data about the business;
(b)a logic processing unit, providing access into said geo-indexed database;
(c)a business interface to the system, allowing a business to control the data; and
(d)a customer interface to the system allowing the customer to search the business data to locate a business of interest, wherein, based on a customer search, the logic processing unit generates and prioritizes a search result including a list of businesses prioritized on the basis of business location sensitivity and business score from weighting factors. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for generating business information for a customer, the method comprising:
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(a)providing a geo-indexed database including information on a plurality of businesses and a logic processing unit through which each business in the database is assigned to a business category and for associating criteria to each business category;
(b)accepting a search request from the customer to determine a business category of interest to the customer; and
(c)operating the logic processing unit to obtain appropriate information from the customer based on the criteria associated with the business category of interest and searching the database to generate a list of businesses from the business category selected by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for providing business information to a customer from a business comprising:
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(a)receiving a search request in a data, voice, or messaging format from a customer from a communication device, the search request specifying business information of interest and a location of interest;
(b)converting the search request to a digital signal representation understandable by a computer system;
(c)in response to the search request, assigning a location specificity to the business information of interest and searching a geo-indexed database of business information for a particular data item relating to the business information of interest;
(d)with reference to the location specificity of the business of interest, prioritizing search results based on proximity to the location of interest; and
(e)generating a list of prioritized search results into the format used for the search request. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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- 50. A method of presenting results obtained from an automated directory assistance system comprising prioritizing the results using weighting factors comprising relevancy and location, and randomizing the prioritized results.
Specification