Enhanced search results

• US 7,624,101 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Walt, Castro, Luis, Dorward, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US11/343,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/7, 707/10, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method includes receiving a search query from a user and generating search results based on the search query. The method may also include providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with a first one of the search results to the user. The method may further include providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

Claims

1. A method performed by a server device, the method comprising:

examining, by a processor of the server device, records in a local search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business or organization identifier;

mapping, by the processor and based on the examining the records in the local search database, one of the business or organization identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses;

selecting, by the processor, one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business or organization identifiers;

associating, by the processor and in a search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address;

receiving, by the processor, a search query from a user;

generating, by the processor, search results based on the search query, where the generating search results includes;

automatically identifying a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user; and

using the identified geographic location to perform a local search;

identifying, by the processor, at least one of a telephone number or a street address associated with a first search result of the search results using the search index; and

providing, by the processor, the search results to the user, the search results including information specifying the at least one of a telephone number or a street address, the information specifying the at least one of a telephone number or a street address being provided in close proximity to the first search result on a user interface screen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a link to a local search system with the search results.

3. The method of claim 1, farther comprising:

providing, on the user interface screen, a link associated with the first search result;

automatically generating the map in response to selection of the link by the user;

identifying additional information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link by the user; and

providing the map and the additional information for output together on another user interface screen, the additional information including information not included with the first search result.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

automatically providing first information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link, the first information including information not included with the first search result.

5. The method of claim 4, where the first information comprises information associated with the first search result that is likely to be relevant to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing first information with the first search result and a map showing a location associated with the first search result to the user, the first information and the map being visually presented together on a second user interface screen.

7. The method of claim 1, where the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or a street address comprises:

providing the telephone number and the street address to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, where the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or a street address further comprises:

providing the telephone number, the address and a link to a map to the user for output together via the user interface screen, the telephone number, the street address and the link being visually presented below a title of the one search result on the user interface screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a link to a map in association with the first search result on the user interface screen;

providing the map to the user in response to selection of the link; and

providing directions with the map to the user, the directions being based on a location of the street address associated with the one search result and the geographic location associated with the user.

10. A system implemented using one or more computing devices, comprising:

means for examining records in a local search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business or organization identifier;

means for mapping, based on examining the records in the local search database, one of the business or organization identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses;

means for selecting one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business or organization identifiers;

means for associating, in a search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address;

means for generating search results based on a search query from a user, where the means for generating includes;

means for automatically identifying a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user; and

means for using the identified geographic location to perform a local search;

means for providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a street address or a telephone number associated with at least one of the search results to a user, the at least one of a street address or a telephone number associated with at least one of the search results being determined using the search index;

means for providing a link to a map associated with at least the one search result to the user; and

means for automatically providing the map and other information associated with the one search result in response to selection of the link, the other information including information not included with the one search result.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for providing a link to a local search system associated with an other one of the search results and not providing a link to a map for the other search result.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for determining whether information associated with an other one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations associated with a first entity;

means for identifying a geographic location associated with the user; and

means for providing information identifying a street address of one of the plurality of locations with the other search result based on the identified geographic location.

13. A system, comprising:

a computer-readable memory device containing instructions; and

a processor coupled to the computer-readable memory device, the processor executing the instructions to cause the processor to;

examine records in a local search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business or organization identifier,

map, based on examining the records in the local search database, one of the business or organization identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses,

select one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business or organization identifiers,

associate, in a search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address,

generate search results based on a search query,

provide the search results and information identifying a telephone number and a street address associated with at least one of the search results to a user, the information identifying a telephone number and a street address associated with at least one of the search results being determined by using the search index,

provide a link to a map associated with at least the one search result to the user,

automatically provide the map to the user in response to selection of the link, and

provide additional information associated with the one search result to the user in response to selection of the link, the additional information and the map being presented for output on a same user interface screen, and the additional information including information not included with the one search result,

where, when generating the search results, the processor executes the instructions to cause the processor to;

automatically identify a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user; and

use the identified geographic location to perform a local search.

14. The system of claim 13, where when selecting the one web site address, executing the instructions causes the processor to:

obtain web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses, and

ignore a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses when the web page, which corresponds to the particular web site address, includes a plurality of street addresses.

15. The system of claim 13, where when selecting the one web site address, executing the instructions causes the processor to:

obtain web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses, and

ignore a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses when the web page, which corresponds to the particular web site address, includes contact information that conflicts with the contact information included in a set of the records in the local search database, the set of records being associated with the one of the business or organization identifiers.

16. A system, comprising:

a memory to store a search index that includes information associated with a plurality of businesses; and

a server device to;

examine records in a local business search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business identifier,

map, based on examining the records in the local search database, one of the business identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses,

select one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business identifiers,

associate, in the search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address,

receive a search query from a user,

generate search results based on the search query,

determine, using the search index, whether information associated with one of the search results includes information identifying a plurality of web pages, and

identify a uniform resource locator corresponding to one of the plurality of web pages to include with the one search result based on one or more sources that provided the information identifying the plurality of web pages,

provide, to the user, the search results and a link to a local search system, the one search result including the identified uniform resource locator, and at least one search result, of the search results, being associated with information specifying at least one of a telephone number or a street address using the search index,

automatically identify, when the link is selected, a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user, and

use the identified geographic location to perform a local search.

17. The system of claim 16, where the contact information comprises the street address and the telephone number of the one business and the server device:

accesses the search index to identify the street address and the telephone number associated with a search result associated with the one business, and

provides the search result, the street address, the telephone number and a link to a map associated with the address to the user.

18. The system of claim 17, where the server device:

determines whether information in the memory associated with another one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a plurality of geographic locations, and

when a generated search result identifies an other web page associated with the other business and the memory includes information identifying a plurality of geographic locations associated with the other business, provides the link to the local search system to the user with a search result associated with the other business.

19. The system of claim 16, where the server device:

generates search results in response to a second user query,

determines whether information associated with one of the search results, in the search index, identifies a plurality of geographic locations associated with a first entity,

identifies a geographic location associated with a user that submitted the second user query, when the information associated with the one of the search results identifies a plurality of geographic locations associated with the first entity, and

provides information identifying a street address of one of the plurality of geographic locations with the one of the search results based on the identified geographic location.

20. A method performed by a server device, the method comprising:

examining, by a processor of the server device, records in a local search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business or organization identifier;

mapping, by the processor and based on examining the records in the local search database, one of the business or organization identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses;

selecting, by the processor, one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business or organization identifiers;

associating, by the processor and in a search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address;

receiving, by the processor, a search query from a user;

generating, by the processor, search results based on the search query;

determining, by the processor, whether a plurality of uniform resource locators are associated with one of the plurality of search results in the search index;

identifying, by the processor and when a plurality of uniform resource locators are associated with the one search result, one of the plurality of uniform resource locators to include with the one search result based on at least one of a source that provided the one uniform resource locator or information on a web page corresponding to the one uniform resource locator;

providing, by the processor and to the user, the search results and a link to a local search system, the one search result including the one uniform resource locator, and at least one search result, of the search results, being associated with information specifying at least one of a telephone number or a street address using the search index;

automatically identifying, by the processor and in response to selection of the link, a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user; and

using, by the processor, the identified geographic location to perform a local search.

21. The method of claim 20, where the selecting the one web site address includes:

ignoring a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses based on a quantity of web pages on a web site, associated with the particular web site address.

22. The method of claim 20, where the selecting the one web site address includes:

obtaining web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses, and

ignoring a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses when the web page, which corresponds to the particular web site address, includes a plurality of street addresses.

23. A computer program product, tangibly stored on a computer-readable memory device, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to:

examine records in a local search database, each record of the examined records including a web site address and contact information, the contact information corresponding to at least one of a street address or a telephone number, each record of the examined records including a business or organization identifier;

map, based on examining the records in the local search database, one of the business or organization identifiers to a plurality of web site addresses;

select one web site address of the plurality of web site addresses for the one of the business or organization identifiers;

associate, in a search index, the one web site address with the contact information from one of the records in the local search database, the one of the records including the one web site address;

receive search results that are responsive to a search query that is associated with a user, one of the search results being associated with a plurality of geographic locations in the search index;

automatically ascertain a geographic location of the user based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user;

identify, by performing a local search using the ascertained geographic location of the user, geographic location information associated with one of the plurality of geographic locations, the geographic location information including at least a street address; and

output the search results, the geographic location information and a link to a map that shows a geographic location specified by the street address, the outputting being performed in response to the search query and not in response to selection of a link by the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to select the one web site address include instructions to cause the processor to:

obtain web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses,

compare the contact information from a set of the records, in the local search database, to contact information included within the obtained web pages, the set of records being associated with the one of the business or organization identifiers, and

select a web site address associated with a web page, of the obtained web pages, that includes contact information that matches contact information from a record in the set of records.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to select the one web site address include instructions to cause the processor to:

submit a query to a domain name registry to obtain contact information; and

compare the obtained contact information to contact information from a set of the records in the local search database, the set of records being associated with the one of the business or organization identifiers.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, where the one web site address is selected based on a source that provides the one web site address.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, where the one web site address is selected based on contact information stored in a domain name registry.

28. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to select the one web site address include instructions to cause the processor to:

obtain web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses, and

ignore a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses when the web page, which corresponds to the particular web site address, includes a plurality of street addresses.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to select the one web site address include instructions to cause the processor to:

obtain web pages that correspond to the plurality of web site addresses, and

ignore a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses when the web page, which corresponds to the particular web site address, includes contact information that conflicts with the contact information included in a set of the records in the local search database, the set of records being associated with the one of the business or organization identifiers.

30. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to select the one web site address include instructions to cause the processor to:

ignore a particular web site address of the plurality of web site addresses based on a quantity of web pages on a web site, associated with the particular web site address.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, where the instructions operable to cause the processor to ignore the particular web site address include one or more instructions operable to cause the processor to:

compare the quantity of web pages to a threshold.

32. The computer program product of claim 23, where the instructions further include instructions operable to cause the processor to:

receiving a search query; and

one or more instructions for providing, in response to receiving the search query, a plurality of search results to a client device using the search index, the plurality of search results including a search result corresponding to the one web site address and including the contact information.