Dynamic Menus for Multi-Prefix Interactive Mobile Searches

• US 20160140127A1
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tropare, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tropare, Inc.
• Inventors: Carpenter, G Gregory, Kay, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US15/005,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24539 using cached or materialised query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

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 interactive information retrieval system, including non-transitory computer-accessible storage media, that searches a database of content items, the system comprising:

a. a multi-prefix search module, embodied in a first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that receives keystrokes as they are entered by a user into a mobile device, searches for content items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching the keystrokes, and generates a first-tier set of search results containing matching content items;

b. a first-tier search result delivery module, embodied in the first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that delivers the first-tier set of search results to the mobile device;

c. a client application, embodied in a second non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium on the mobile device that sorts at least a portion of the first-tier set of search results utilizing a data set from the mobile device and displays the sorted portion of the first-tier set of search results to the user of the mobile device.

2. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a predefined channel of content items.

3. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a user-defined location.

4. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a location obtained from a GPS module of the mobile device.

5. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises one or more results of a prior search by the user.

6. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a time of day obtained from the mobile device.

7. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a telephone number stored on the mobile device.

8. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises an email address stored on the mobile device.

9. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a text message address stored on the mobile device.

10. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises an image stored on the mobile device.

11. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the data set comprises a data set accessible by the mobile device from a website.

12. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sorted portion of the first-tier set of search results is associated with a dynamic menu item.

13. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 12, wherein when the dynamic menu item can be activated in a first manner by the user using a first gesture or in a second manner by the user using a second gesture, the first and second gestures being different gestures.

14. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 13, wherein the first manner of activation comprises pressing a touchscreen of the mobile device proximate to the dynamic menu item for a first length of time.

15. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 14, wherein the second manner of activation comprises pressing the touchscreen of the mobile device proximate to the dynamic menu item for a second length of time, the second length of time being longer than the first length of time.

16. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 14, wherein the first manner of activation selects the dynamic menu item.

17. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 15, wherein the second manner of activation actuates the dynamic menu item.