DYNAMIC MENUS FOR MULTI-PREFIX INTERACTIVE MOBILE SEARCHES

• US 20080319952A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tropare, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boopsie Incorporated
• Inventors: Carpenter, G. Gregory, Kay, Timothy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth.

Claims

1. An information retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a query builder that can enable entry of a multi-prefix user query on a mobile communications client device, wherein the user query can be transmitted to a server device;

(b) a query targeter that can enable selection of a channel as a search domain to which the user query can be applied, wherein an identifier of the selected channel can be transmitted to the server device;

(c) a query processor on the server device that can generate results of the user query from within the channel, wherein the user query results can be transmitted to the client device; and

(d) a query results presenter that can display the user query results on the client device.

2. An information retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a query builder that can enable entry of a multi-prefix user query on a mobile communications client device, wherein the user query can be transmitted to a server device;

(b) a query targeter that can enable selection of a channel as a search domain to which the user query can be applied, wherein an identifier of the selected channel can be transmitted to the server device; and

(c) a query results presenter that can display user query results on the client device that were generated from within the channel by a query processor on the server device, and transmitted to the client device.

3. The information retrieval system of claim 2, wherein

(a) the query builder can construct a partial user query during entry of one or more characters of the user query, and the partial user query can be transmitted to the server device;

and

(b) the query results presenter can display partial user query results on the client device as they are generated by the query processor on the server device and transmitted to the client device,

(c) whereby the information retrieval system can generate and display results of a partial user query interactively before entry of the entire user query is complete.

4. The information retrieval system of claim 2, wherein a “

first-tier”

multi-prefix user query can be applied to a search domain of all channels available to the client device.

5. The information retrieval system of claim 2, further comprising:

(a) a query result selector that can enable selection of a record within the user query results, and

(b) a result action processor that can, upon activation of a selected record, initiate a predefined action associated with that record.

6. The information retrieval system of claim 5, wherein the predefined action is a link to a web page.

7. The information retrieval system of claim 5, wherein the predefined action is a request to the server device for updated user query results filtered by the selected record.

8. The information retrieval system of claim 5, wherein a selected record can contain one or more data fields, and the user query results can be generated by searching across the data fields.

9. An information retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a query builder that can enable entry of a multi-prefix user query on a mobile communications client device, wherein the user query can be transmitted to a server device;

(b) a query targeter that can enable selection of a channel as a search domain to which the user query can be applied, wherein an identifier of the selected channel can be transmitted to the server device;

(c) a query processor on the server device that can generate results of the user query from within the channel, wherein the user query results can be transmitted to the client device;

(d) a query results presenter that can display the user query results on the client device;

(e) a dynamic menu processor on the server device that can generate one or more dynamic menu items, each having an associated action that can be performed with respect to particular user query results, wherein the dynamic menu items and their associated actions can be transmitted to the client device; and

(f) a dynamic menu interpreter that, upon activation of a dynamic menu item, can initiate its associated action.

10. An information retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a query builder that can enable entry of a multi-prefix user query on a mobile communications client device, wherein the user query can be transmitted to a server device;

(b) a query targeter that can enable selection of a channel as a search domain to which the user query can be applied, wherein an identifier of the selected channel can be transmitted to the server device;

(c) a query results presenter that can display user query results on the client device that were generated from within the channel by a query processor on the server device, and transmitted to the client device; and

(d) a dynamic menu interpreter that can receive from the server device one or more dynamic menu items, each having an associated action that can be performed with respect to particular user query results, and, upon activation of a dynamic menu item, can initiate its associated action.

11. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein

(a) the query builder can construct a partial user query during entry of one or more characters of the user query, and the partial user query can be transmitted to the server device;

and

(b) the query results presenter can display partial user query results on the client device as they are generated by the query processor on the server device and transmitted to the client device,

(c) whereby the information retrieval system can generate and display results of a partial user query interactively before entry of the entire user query is complete.

12. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein a “

first-tier”

multi-prefix user query can be applied to a search domain of all channels available to the client device.

13. The information retrieval system of claim 10, further comprising:

(a) a query result selector that can enable selection of a record within the user query results, and

(b) a result action processor that can, upon activation of a selected record, initiate a predefined action associated with that record.

14. The information retrieval system of claim 13, wherein the predefined action associated with a selected record is a link to a web page.

15. The information retrieval system of claim 13, wherein the predefined action associated with a selected record is a request to the server device for updated user query results filtered by the selected record.

16. The information retrieval system of claim 13, wherein a selected record can contain one or more data fields, and the user query results can be generated by searching across the data fields.

17. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein the user query is a multi-prefix user query.

18. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein the client device is a mobile communications device.

19. The information retrieval system of claim 13, wherein the dynamic menu interpreter, upon selection of a record and activation of a dynamic menu item having an associated action that references a data field of the selected record, can initiate the associated action.

20. The information retrieval system of claim 19, wherein the dynamic menu interpreter, upon activation of a dynamic menu item having an associated “

call”

action that references a “

phone number”

data field, can initiate a phone call from the client device to the number in the phone number field of the selected record.

21. The information retrieval system of claim 19, wherein the dynamic menu interpeter, upon activation of a dynamic menu item having an associated “

SMS”

action that references a “

phone number”

data field, can initiate an SMS text message from the client device to the number in the phone number field of the selected record.

22. The information retrieval system of claim 19, wherein the dynamic menu interpreter, upon activation of a dynamic menu item having an associated “

message”

action that references a “

message address”

data field, can initiate an email or other message from the client device to the address in the message address field of the selected record.

23. The information retrieval system of claim 19, wherein the associated action initiated by the dynamic menu interpreter involves passing a web page link to, and launching, a web browser on the client device.

24. The information retrieval system of claim 19, wherein the associated action initiated by the dynamic menu interpreter involves transmitting a request to the server device to perform a function utilizing the referenced data field of the selected record.

25. The information retrieval system of claim 24, wherein the function performed by the server device involves invoking a feature of the channel with respect to the selected record.

26. The information retrieval system of claim 24, wherein the function performed by the server device involves retrieval of information from the channel with respect to the selected record.

27. The information retrieval system of claim 24, wherein the associated action is a “

Search from here”

action, and the function performed by the server device involves refreshing the user search query and sorting updated user query results based on proximity to a “

location”

in the referenced data field of the selected record.

28. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein the user query results can be sorted automatically by the server device based on proximity to a “

reference location”

provided by the client device.

29. The information retrieval system of claim 10, wherein the client device, upon the occurrence of a state condition specified in an instruction from the server device, can request a “

refresh”

of the current user query to provide the client device with updated user query results.

30. The information retrieval system of claim 29, wherein

(a) the specified condition is a distance traveled by the client device, determined automatically using GPS functionality,

(b) the refresh request is transmitted to the server device along with a current “

reference location”

of the client device, and

(c) the updated user query results received from the server device are sorted based on proximity to that reference location.

31. The information retrieval system of claim 30, wherein the client device can request notification from the server device upon detection by the server device that the proximity of the reference location to a selected destination falls below a specified threshold.

32. The information retrieval system of claim 29, wherein the specified condition is an amount of elapsed time, resulting in a periodic “

refresh”

request to the server device.

33. The information retrieval system of claim 32, wherein the client device can request notification from the server device upon detection by the server device that the remaining time in an event falls below a specified threshold.

34. An information retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a query processor on a server device that can receive from a client device a user query and an identifier of a channel selected as a search domain to which the user query can be applied, and can generate results of the user query from within the channel, wherein the user query results can be transmitted to the client device; and

(b) a dynamic menu processor on the server device that can generate one or more dynamic menu items, each having an associated action that can be performed with respect to particular user query results, wherein the dynamic menu items and their associated actions can be transmitted to the client device.

35. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the query processor can

(a) receive from the client device a partial user query, constructed during entry of one or more characters of the user query, and

(b) generate results of that partial user query from within the channel, wherein the user query results can be transmitted, as they are generated, to the client device for display,

(c) whereby the information retrieval system can generate and display results of a partial user query interactively before entry of the entire user query is complete.

36. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein a “

first-tier”

multi-prefix user query can be applied to a search domain of all channels available to the client device.

37. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the user query results transmitted to the client device contain a set of records, and a predefined action associated with each record that can be initiated on the client device upon selection and activation of a record.

38. The information retrieval system of claim 37, wherein the predefined action associated with a selected record is a link to a web page.

39. The information retrieval system of claim 37, wherein the predefined action associated with a selected record is a request to the server device for updated user query results filtered by the selected record.

40. The information retrieval system of claim 37, wherein a selected record can contain one or more data fields, and the user query results can be generated by searching across the data fields.

41. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the user query is a multi-prefix user query.

42. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the client device is a mobile communications device.

43. The information retrieval system of claim 37, wherein the dynamic menu processor can generate a dynamic menu item having an associated action that references a data field of the set of records transmitted to the client device, and the action can be initiated on the client device upon selection of one of the records and activation of the dynamic menu item.

44. The information retrieval system of claim 43, wherein the action associated with an activated dynamic menu item on the client device can be a “

call”

action that references a “

phone number”

data field, resulting in a phone call from the client device to the number in the phone number field of the selected record.

45. The information retrieval system of claim 43, wherein the action associated with an activated dynamic menu item on the client device can be an “

SMS”

action that references a “

phone number”

data field, resulting in an SMS text message from the client device to the number in the phone number field of the selected record.

46. The information retrieval system of claim 43, wherein the action associated with an activated dynamic menu item on the client device can be a “

message”

action that references a “

message address”

data field, resulting in an email or other message from the client device to the address in the message address field of the selected record.

47. The information retrieval system of claim 43, wherein the action associated with an activated dynamic menu item involves passing a web page link to, and launching, a web browser on the client device.

48. The information retrieval system of claim 43, wherein the action associated with an activated dynamic menu item involves transmitting a request to the server device to perform a function utilizing the referenced data field of the selected record.

49. The information retrieval system of claim 48, wherein the function performed by the server device involves invoking a feature of the channel with respect to the selected record.

50. The information retrieval system of claim 48, wherein the function performed by the server device involves retrieval of information from the channel with respect to the selected record.

51. The information retrieval system of claim 48, wherein the associated action is a “

Search from here”

action, and the function performed by the server device involves refreshing the user search query and sorting updated user query results based on proximity to a “

location”

in the referenced data field of the selected record.

52. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the user query results can be sorted automatically by the server device based on proximity to a “

reference location”

provided by the client device.

53. The information retrieval system of claim 34, wherein the server device can instruct the client device to issue a request, upon the occurrence of a state condition specified by the server device in the instruction, that the server device “

refresh”

the current user query and provide the client device with updated user query results.

54. The information retrieval system of claim 53, wherein

(a) the specified condition is a distance traveled by the client device, determined automatically using GPS functionality,

(b) the refresh request transmitted to the server device includes a current “

reference location”

of the client device, and

(c) the updated user query results generated on the server device are sorted based on proximity to that reference location.

55. The information retrieval system of claim 54, wherein the server device can notify the client device upon detecting that the proximity of the reference location to a selected destination falls below a specified threshold.

56. The information retrieval system of claim 53, wherein the specified condition is an amount of elapsed time, resulting in a periodic “

refresh”

request to the server device.

57. The information retrieval system of claim 56, wherein the server device can notify the client device upon detecting that the remaining time in an event falls below a specified threshold.