Method of determining a likely geographical location
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for determining a likely geographical location for which a querying user of a computer desires further information based on submitted criteria, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at an internet-based search engine, search criteria comprising text that comprises a locality name;
separating the text of the search criteria into text that may be a name of a locality and text that is not a name of a locality;
comparing the text that may be a name of a locality to a data set comprising at least one of town, province, or country names to verify the locality name in the text of the search criteria;
determining, with a processor, a probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographical location; and
providing, with the processor, to a user providing the search criteria, information that comprises search results that are refined based on the probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographic location.
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Abstract
A method of determining a likely geographical location for which a user of a computer desires further information based on submitted criteria comprising the steps of: the user submitting criteria including a locality name; identifying from the criteria the locality name; returning, in dependence on the locality name, a probability that the locality name is associated with a geographical location.
57 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for determining a likely geographical location for which a querying user of a computer desires further information based on submitted criteria, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at an internet-based search engine, search criteria comprising text that comprises a locality name; separating the text of the search criteria into text that may be a name of a locality and text that is not a name of a locality; comparing the text that may be a name of a locality to a data set comprising at least one of town, province, or country names to verify the locality name in the text of the search criteria; determining, with a processor, a probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographical location; and providing, with the processor, to a user providing the search criteria, information that comprises search results that are refined based on the probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining a likely geographical location of a network user based on criteria submitted by the user, the method comprising the steps of:
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holding in a location module geographic location information mapped from a user'"'"'s computer network address that is an IP address; monitoring submitted criteria including a locality name; determining if the locality name is a sub-location within the geographic location indicated by the geographic location information mapped from the user'"'"'s network address; refining the geographic location information mapped from the user'"'"'s network address to indicate a probability that the user is located in the sub-location; and using the indicated probability to determine a likely geographical location and to provide to the user information that relates to the likely geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for determining a likely geographical location for which a querying user of a computer desires further information based on submitted criteria, the set of instructions to direct a processor to perform acts of:
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receiving, at an internet-based search engine, search criteria comprising text that comprises a locality name; separating the text of the search criteria into text that may be a name of a locality and text that is not a name of a locality; comparing the text that may be a name of a locality to a data set comprising at least one of town, province, or country names to verify the locality name in the text of the search criteria; determining a probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographical location; and providing to a user providing the search criteria, information that comprises search results that are refined based on the probability that the locality name in the text of the search criteria is associated with a geographic location.
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Specification