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Method and system for searching an information retrieval system according to user-specified location information

  • US 7,376,640 B1
  • Filed: 11/14/2000
  • Issued: 05/20/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for searching a database in an information retrieval system according to user-identified geographical location information using a mobile communications device operating on a wireless network, comprising:

  • creating a database for storing at least geographical location information for each of a plurality of items of interest, wherein creating the database comprises;

    prompting a user of the mobile communications device to provide a location name for a desired geographical location remote from the present geographic location of the mobile communications device;

    receiving geographical location information corresponding to the present geographical location of a user'"'"'s communications device;

    comparing the present location with the desired location;

    if the desired location is different from the present location, confirming the desired location with the user of the wireless communications device; and

    storing in a database the desired location and the provided location name, for subsequent access by the user;

    receiving a search request from the user;

    detecting whether the request is to search the database for items of interest located in a vicinity of the present geographical location of the user'"'"'s communications device or of a different geographical location identified by the user and being a previous geographical location of the user'"'"'s mobile communications device, wherein information regarding the previous geographical location is pre-configured by the user at a prior time;

    if the request is for items of interest located in the vicinity of present geographical location, generating a search query for items of interest only within a certain geographical proximity of the present location; and

    if the request is for items of interest in a vicinity of the previous geographical location,generating a search query for items of interest only within a certain geographical proximity of the previous geographical location identified by the user.

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