Enhanced search results

• US 20070192289A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Castro, Luis, Dorward, Sean, Lin, Walton
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,101 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method includes receiving a search query from a user and generating search results based on the search query. The method may also include providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with a first one of the search results to the user. The method may further include providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

generating search results based on the search query;

providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with at least a first one of the search results to the user; and

providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a link to a local search system with a second one of the search results.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating a map in response to selection of the link by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing first information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first information comprises information associated with the first search result that is likely to be relevant to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing first information with the first search result and a map showing a location associated with the first search result to the user, the first information and the map being located on a same user interface screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address comprises:

providing the telephone number and the address to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address further comprises:

providing the telephone number, the address and the link to a map to the user via a user interface screen, the telephone number, the address and the link being located below a title of the first search result on the user interface screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information associated with a plurality of businesses in a first database;

determining whether first information associated with a first one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a web page;

identifying at least some of the first information associated with the first business when the first information includes information identifying a web page; and

storing the identified information with the web page in a second database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first information comprises the telephone number and the address of the first business.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating search results comprises:

accessing the second database to generate the search results and to identify the at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with the first search result.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether information in the first database associated with a second one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a plurality of locations; and

when the generated search results include a second web page associated with the second business and the first database includes information identifying a plurality of locations associated with the second business, providing a link to a local search system to the user with a second search result associated with the second business.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether information associated with a second one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations;

identifying a first location associated with the user; and

providing information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the second search result based on the first location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying a first location comprises:

identifying the first location based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying a first location comprises:

identifying the first location based on address information included with a cookie received with the search query.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the map to the user in response to selection of the link; and

providing directions with the map to the user, the directions being based on a location of the address associated with the first search result.

17. A system, comprising:

means for generating search results based on a search query;

means for providing the search results and information identifying at least one of an address or a telephone number associated with at least a first one of the search results to a user; and

means for providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for automatically providing the map and information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for providing a link to a local search system associated with a second one of the search results and not providing a link to a map for the second search result.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining whether information associated with a second one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations;

means for identifying a first location associated with the user; and

means for providing information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the second search result based on the first location.

21. A system, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions; and

a processor coupled to the computer-readable medium, the processor executing the instructions to cause the processor to;

generate search results based on a search query,

provide the search results and information identifying a telephone number and address associated with at least a first one of the search results to a user, and

provide a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions further cause to the processor to:

automatically provide the map to the user in response to selection of the link, and

provide first information associated with the first search result on a same user interface screen as the map.

23. A system, comprising:

a memory to store information associated with a plurality of businesses; and

a search engine to;

determine whether first information associated with a first one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a web page,

identify at least some of the first information associated with the first business when the first information includes information identifying a web page, and

store the identified information with the web page in a second database.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first information comprises the address and the telephone number of the first business and the search engine:

receives a search query from a user,

accesses the second database to generate search results and to identify the address and the telephone number associated with a first search result associated with the first business, and

provides the first search result, the address, the telephone number and a link to a map associated with the address to the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the search engine:

determines whether information in the first database associated with a second one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a plurality of locations, and

when a generated search result identifies a second web page associated with the second business and the first database includes information identifying a plurality of locations associated with the second business, provides a link to a local search system to the user with a second search result associated with the second business.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the search engine:

generates search results in response to a user query,

determines whether information associated with a first one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations,

identifies a first location associated with a user that submitted the search query, when the information associated with the first search result identifies a plurality of locations, and

provides information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the first search result based on the first location.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the search engine identifies the first location based on at least one of an Internet protocol address associated with the user and address information included with a cookie received with the user query.

28. A method, comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

generating search results based on the search query;

determining whether a web page associated with a first one of the plurality of search results includes a single address and telephone number;

providing the search results and information identifying the single address and telephone number associated with the first search result to the user, when the web page includes the single address and telephone number; and

providing a link to a map associated with the first search result to the user.