Location-based services

• US 6,944,447 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Gailey, Michael L., Portman, Eric A., Burgiss, Michael J., Smith, Angela King, Holmes, Chad S., Che, Vinny Wai-yan, Dempsen, Stephen L., Pitts, Ashton F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/946,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/456.3, 455/414.2, 455/445, 455/466, 455/564, 455/76, 455/433, 455/434, 455/463, 455/422, 455/435, 455/576, 455/569, 455/575, 455/414, 709/218, 709/216, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24522 Translation of natural language queries to structured queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/1822 Parsing for meaning understanding
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 : for mobile advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and system for providing location-based services to a remote terminal that is connected to various types of communication systems. A tailored request for information is generated with the remote terminal. In addition, a geographic indicator associated with the remote terminal is also generated in the preferred embodiment. The tailored request for information and the geographic indicator are transmitted to a location-based application server. A structured response to the tailored request for information is generated with the location-based application server, wherein the structured response is based on the geographic indicator of the remote terminal. The structured response is the transmitted to the remote terminal using one of several different types of communication protocols and/or mediums.

Claims

1. A method of providing location-based services to a remote terminal in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

generating a text-based tailored request for information with said remote terminal, wherein said text-based tailored request for information comprises a non-predefined text based statement that is a question or a statement composed in a naturally written sentence;

transmitting said text-based tailored request for information to a wireless application protocol server connected to said remote terminal using a wireless application protocol;

interpreting said text-based tailored request for information with said wireless application protocol server generate a structured request that is sent to a location-based application server;

obtaining a geographic indicator of said remote terminal with said location-based application server;

processing said structured request with said location-based application server to generate a structured response to said structured request that is based on said geographic indicator of said remote terminal; and

directing said structured response to said remote terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based tailored request for information comprises a request for directory assistance including a first name and a last name of a person for which information has been requested.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based tailored request for information comprises a request about a respective business/service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based tailored request for information comprises a request about a respective product.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the initial step of transmitting an open ended prompt to said remote terminal and receiving said text-based tailored request for information from said remote terminal in response to said open-ended prompt.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selective voice-based communication and generating a voice-based tailored request for information based on the structured response.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining said geographic indicator comprises receiving a geographic indicator from said remote terminal that has been preset by a user of said remote terminal to a desired geographic location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based tailored request is generated extemporaneously by a user of said remote terminal.

9. A method of providing location-based services in a communication system that includes a plurality of remote terminals, the method comprising:

transmitting an open-ended prompt for receipt by the remote terminal;

a location-based services system receiving from a remote terminal an extemporaneous verbalization in response to the open-ended prompt, wherein the extemporaneous verbalization is a plurality of spoken words chosen by the speaker to convey an intended meaning;

receiving a geographic indicator indicative of a geographic position;

recognizing one or more words contained in the extemporaneous verbalization;

determining a context of the recognized one or more words based on the extemporaneous verbalization;

creating a structured request for information based on the recognized one or more words and the determined context; and

generating a structured response to the extemporaneous verbalization with the location-based services system that is responsive to the structured request and is based on the geographic indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the extemporaneous verbalization consists of a plurality of spoken words that would be understood by a listener to be a request for information or a statement related to at least one of location-based goods or services or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the structured response for receipt by said remote terminal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a context comprises interpreting the meaning of each of the recognized one or more words based on the extemporaneous verbalization.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the extemporaneous verbalization is a request for a geographic location of a vendor of at least one of goods or services or combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the structured response provides a location of a vendor of at least one of goods or services or combinations thereof that are in close proximity to the geographic position.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the extemporaneous verbalization includes a designation of a geographic area and the structured response is based on the geographic indicator, the structured request and the designation of the geographic area.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein creating a structured request comprises indicating that a structured request is unavailable for the extemporaneous verbalization and generating a structured response comprises generating a structured response that is a prompt for input of a text message representative of the extemporaneous verbalization.

17. A location-based services system, comprising:

a voice recognition server configured to receive a plurality of extemporaneously spoken words from a remote terminal in response to an open-ended prompt transmittable for receipt by the remote terminal;

wherein the voice recognition server is configured to recognize terms from among the extemporaneously spoken words;

a natural language processing server in communication with the voice recognition server, wherein the natural language processing server is configured to determine a context of the terms recognized by the voice recognition server and further configured to transform the terms and the determined context into a structured request; and

a location-based application server in communication with the natural language processing server, wherein the location-based application server is configured to receive a geographic indicator and the structured request,

the location-based application server is further configured to generate a structured response to the extemporaneously spoken words based on the geographic indicator and the structured request.

18. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the extemporaneously spoken words include a plurality of words that are ordered so as to be understood by a listener as a request for information or a statement related to at least one of location-based goods or services or combinations thereof.

19. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the location-based application server is further configured to transmit the structured response for receipt by a remote terminal.

20. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the natural language processing server is configured to interpret the meaning of each of the recognized terms based on the extemporaneously spoken words.

21. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the extemporaneously spoken words is a request for a geographic location of a vendor of at least one of goods or services or combinations thereof.

22. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the location-based application server is configured to generate a structured response that is a prompt for a text-based request when the natural language processing server is unable to transform the terms and the determined context into a structured request.

23. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the structured response provides a location of a vendor of at least one of goods or services or combinations thereof that is in close proximity to a geographic location indicated by the geographic indicator.

24. The location-based services system of claim 17, wherein the extemporaneously spoken words include a designation of a geographic area and the location-based application server is configured to generate the structured response based on the geographic indicator, the structured request and the designation of the geographic area.

25. A method of providing location-based services in a communication system that includes a plurality of remote terminals, the method comprising:

transmitting an open-ended prompt related to at least one of location-based goods or services or combinations thereof to a remote terminal;

receiving from the remote terminal a verbalization in response to the open-ended prompt, wherein the verbalization is a plurality of spoken words that would be recognized by a listener as some form of a response to the open-ended prompt;

receiving a geographic indicator indicative of a geographic location;

analyzing the verbalization to selectively identify a plurality of predetermined words that are included in the verbalization;

determining a meaning of each of the identified words based on the context of the verbalization;

transforming the identified words into a structured request that includes a predetermined structured request parameter based on the determined meaning of each of the identified words; and

generating a structured response to the verbalization, wherein the structured response is generated based on the structured request and the geographic indicator.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the structured response for receipt by the remote terminal.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the geographic indicator is a geographic location that is chosen with the remote terminal to be other than the current geographic location of the remote terminal.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the verbalization includes a geographic radius surrounding the remote terminal, and the structured response is generated based on the geographic indicator, the structured request and the geographic radius.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for directory assistance, and the verbalization includes spoken words that are a last name and a first name of a person for which information has been requested.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the request for directory assistance also includes a request for geographic information, and the verbalization also includes a spoken word that is indicative of geographic information that is said geographic indicator.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for specific information pertaining to at least one of a particular business or service or combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for specific information on a governmental agency, office, department, or person holding office or combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for information on at least one of a particular product, a brand of merchandise or a service or combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the geographic indicator comprises receiving a current geographic location of the remote terminal.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the geographic indicator comprises receiving an updated geographic indicator as the remote terminal changes geographic locations.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the structured response comprises a voice signal.

37. A location-based services system, comprising:

a remote terminal configured to receive and provide an open-ended prompt to a user of the remote terminal, wherein the open-end prompt is related to at least one of location-based goods or services, or combinations thereof;

the remote terminal further configurable to transmit a verbalization in response to the open-ended prompt, wherein the verbalization is a plurality of extemporaneously spoken words that convey a question or a statement;

a voice recognition server configured to receive the verbalization and further configured to selectively identify terms from among the extemporaneously spoken words;

a natural language processing server in communication with the voice recognition server, wherein the natural language processing server is configured to determine a context of the terms identified by the voice recognition server and further configured to transform the terms and the determined context into a structured request; and

a location-based application server in communication with the natural language processing server, wherein the location-based application server is configured to receive a geographic indicator and the structured request,

the location-based application server is further configured to generate a structured response to the verbalization based on the geographic indicator and the structured request.

38. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the location-based application server is further configured to transmit the structured response to the remote terminal.

39. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the geographic indicator is a geographic location that is set with the remote terminal to be other than the current geographic location of the remote terminal.

40. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the verbalization includes a geographic radius surrounding the remote terminal and the location-based application server is further configured to generate the structured response based on the geographic indicator, the structured request and the geographic radius.

41. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for directory assistance, and the verbalization includes spoken words that are a last name and a first name of a person for which information has been requested.

42. The location-based services system of claim 41, wherein the request for directory assistance also includes a request for geographic information, and the verbalization also includes a spoken word indicative of geographic information that is said geographic indicator.

43. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for specific information pertaining to at least one of a particular business or service or combination thereof.

44. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for specific information on a governmental agency, office, department, or person holding office.

45. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the open-ended prompt is a request for a business request, and the verbalization is spoken words that form a request for information on at least one of a particular product, a brand of merchandise or a service.

46. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the location-based application server is configured to receive a current geographic location of the remote terminal as the geographic indicator.

47. The location-based services system of claim 46, wherein the location-based application server is configured to receive an updated geographic indicator as the remote terminal changes geographic locations.

48. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the structured response comprises a voice signal.

49. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the verbalization comprises a request for information about at least one of a particular business or service or combination thereof that includes at least one of a business name, a business address, a type of business, a type of product, a type of service offered, a price range of products or a price range of services offered.

50. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the verbalization is a business request that is at least one of a request for information about at least one of a particular product or service or combinations thereof, a request for information on a brand of product, or a request for information on a type of at least one of a product or a service or a combination thereof.

51. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the geographic indicator is determined by a respective geographic location of the remote terminal.

52. The location-based services system of claim 37, wherein the remote terminal is a wireless communication device that is connected to a wireless communication system.