Information retrieval system and method employing spatially selective features
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An information retrieval method employing spatially selective features, the method comprising:
- (i) receiving a search request from a user, the search request defining a search area and user locating information;
(ii) automatically defining a minimum search area needed to locate and retrieve a minimum, specified number of search results;
(iii) in a geo-coded database including a plurality of records, each record being associated with a database record owner and including advertising information associated with the database record owner, and each record having geo-locating information including a defined search area availability, indexing records beyond the defined minimum search area for the respective records;
(iv) automatically searching and retrieving records in the database, commencing at a specified point and extending over a search area beyond the defined search area availability of at least one record and automatically extending the search until one or more records are located;
(v) creating a dynamic set of categories to present to the user;
(vi) evaluating records and automatically determining an appropriate default search area to ensure the provision of search results in all appropriate categories of the set of categories;
(vii) displaying the search results as tabular and graphical information on a display page, wherein the tabular information includes prioritized information, wherein the tabular and graphical information are linked;
wherein the graphical information comprises graphical representations of the search location, the determined geo-spatial distance, and the search results on a map display; and
wherein the graphical representations of the search location comprise points indicating the location of the search results on the map display;
(viii) determining if one or more points overlap; and
(ix) selecting at least two of the overlapping points to combine into a single larger point to eliminate the overlap.
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Abstract
A geo-coded database stores advertiser records which include location information. Received search requests are matched with database records based on location information in the search requests and the record location information. In this manner, a user can search for information on a local basis and receive only the most relevant local search results.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An information retrieval method employing spatially selective features, the method comprising:
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(i) receiving a search request from a user, the search request defining a search area and user locating information; (ii) automatically defining a minimum search area needed to locate and retrieve a minimum, specified number of search results; (iii) in a geo-coded database including a plurality of records, each record being associated with a database record owner and including advertising information associated with the database record owner, and each record having geo-locating information including a defined search area availability, indexing records beyond the defined minimum search area for the respective records; (iv) automatically searching and retrieving records in the database, commencing at a specified point and extending over a search area beyond the defined search area availability of at least one record and automatically extending the search until one or more records are located; (v) creating a dynamic set of categories to present to the user; (vi) evaluating records and automatically determining an appropriate default search area to ensure the provision of search results in all appropriate categories of the set of categories; (vii) displaying the search results as tabular and graphical information on a display page, wherein the tabular information includes prioritized information, wherein the tabular and graphical information are linked;
wherein the graphical information comprises graphical representations of the search location, the determined geo-spatial distance, and the search results on a map display; and
wherein the graphical representations of the search location comprise points indicating the location of the search results on the map display;(viii) determining if one or more points overlap; and (ix) selecting at least two of the overlapping points to combine into a single larger point to eliminate the overlap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification