METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ACCESSING INFORMATION

• US 20090119264A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Bostic, Brad, Lenzo, Chris
• Application Number:
  US12/265,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

A system and method of associating various communication services with a user ID is described. Using the association of a user ID with various communication service(s) and/or device(s), information related to a search request may be provided via any or all devices and/or communication services which are associated with the user ID.

Claims

1. A method of providing access to information, comprising:

associating a first identifier with a second identifier; and

providing information of a message associated with the first identifier using a service associated with the second identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identifier is a phone number and the second identifier is a login identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of an Instant Message, an SMS message, an EMS message, an MMS message, a voice message, an email, or a VoIP call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identifier is one of a phone number, a user login identifier, an email address, an instant message credential, a persistent cookie, an IP address, a street address or a MAC address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second identifier is one of a phone number, a user login identifier, an email address, an instant message credential, a persistent cookie, an IP address, a street address or a MAC address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is one of Instant Messaging, SMS, EMS, MMS, a voice service, an email service, a VoIP service, a courier service, or an internet service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes a request for information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes one of a search request, a search result, an advertisement, a searcher, a resource, a user, a keyword, a category, a location, time, a demographic, a structured query or an advertiser.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received at a destination associated with a human-assisted search.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received at a destination associated with an automated search.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received at a destination associated with an automated search and a human-assisted search.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the association is done by a person.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the association is done automatically.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is provided automatically.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is provided using the assistance of a person.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is provided based on a condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the condition is one of a location, time, keyword, category, device status, query status, guide status or user status.

18. A method of providing access to information, comprising:

receiving a search request associated with a telephone number;

associating the telephone number with a login identifier provided by a user; and

providing information of the search request to the user using a web page associated with the login identifier.

19. A computer readable medium storing therein a program for causing a program to execute an operation including providing access to information, comprising:

associating a first identifier with a second identifier; and

providing information of a message associated with the first identifier using a service associated with the second identifier.

20. A system, comprising:

a user device associating a first identifier with a second identifier; and

a search system providing information of a message associated with the first identifier using a service associated with the second identifier.

21. A method of providing information of a search, comprising:

receiving a request using a first communication type; and

conducting a search responsive to the request and providing information resulting from the search using a second communication type.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information is formatted for transmission using the second communication type.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said providing includes determining a preferred communication service of a user submitting the request.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the information is provided as part of a search service to which a user submitting the request has registered.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the second communication type among multiple communication types is selected based on a condition designated by a user submitting the request.

24. The method of claim 24, comprising:

displaying an advertisement having content relevant to the request and selected as being associated with the preferred communication service of the user.