Location-based searches by measuring location-based clickthrough measurements using implicit location

• US 20070136227A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wegdam, Maarten
• Application Number:
  US11/301,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A location-based search engine is improved by using a ranking algorithm that combines clickthrough measurements with implicit user location. The location is passed to the search, without requiring explicit user input of the location.

Claims

1. A method for providing location information, comprising:

receiving a request for a location-based service;

determining an implicit location of a user automatically; and

providing the implicit location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining clickthrough measurements with the implicit location of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based service is a search query.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is from a search engine and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to a web browser.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is from a web server proxy and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to a web browser.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is from a web browser and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to the web browser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the implicit location of the user is provided with a degree of accuracy protecting the privacy of the user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the implicit location of the user is provided with a degree of accuracy protecting the privacy of the user.

8. A system for providing location information, comprising:

an application program interface (API) to receive a request for a location-based service; and

a location provider to automatically provide an implicit location of a user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the location provider combines clickthrough measurements with the implicit location of the user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the location-based service is a search query.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the request is from a search engine and the location provider is a network provider that provides the implicit location of the user to a web browser.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the request is from a web server proxy and the location provider is a network provider that provides the implicit location of the user to a web browser.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the request is from a web browser and the location provider is a network provider that provides the implicit location of the user to the web browser.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the implicit location of the user is provided with a degree of accuracy protecting the privacy of the user.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the location provider is a base station in a mobile network.

16. A computer readable medium storing instructions for performing a method for providing location information, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a location-based service;

determining an implicit location of a user automatically; and

providing the implicit location of the user.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the request is from a search engine and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to a web browser.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the request is from a web server proxy and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to a web browser.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the request is from a web browser and the implicit location of the user is provided by a network provider to the web browser.