Method and apparatus of requesting customized location information at a mobile station

• US 8,412,235 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Corporation
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Mason, Joel G., Jacobs, Pamela J., Groothuis, Andrew Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/941,342
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414, 455/456.1, 455/550.1, 455/414.2, 709/224, 714/49, 714/E11.043, 714/805, 705/23, 705/14.25, 375/E7.129, 375/E7.211, 375/E7.17, 375/E7.14, 375/E7.135, 382/175, 707/999.1, 707/999.2, 707/999.001
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• 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: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A method and apparatus of processing a call are disclosed. One example method may include receiving a request at a server for dealer information. The request may be initiated by a user via his or her mobile station. The example method may also include determining whether there is user preference information and user location information included in the request. The information may be used to limit the amount of search results to increase relevancy. The method may also include searching a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information, and transferring the at least one dealer information to the user.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call for providing dealer information, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a server for dealer information;

determining whether user preference information and user location information is included in the request;

wherein the user location information comprises location coordinates and a distance radius related to the user location;

wherein at least one of the user preference information and the user location information is not included in the request, prompting the user for the information;

searching a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information;

transferring the at least one dealer information to the user via at least one of a text, a voice call, streaming audio and a text-to-speech application;

wherein the information for the at least one dealer is related to the user preference information and the user location information;

wherein if there are no dealers located within a predefined area of the user location information prompting the user to try another search request;

after the user has received the dealer information, receiving a request for additional dealer information from the user and providing the user with the additional dealer information including at least one location for a dealer proximate to the predefined area; and

wherein the request is sent as a voice command and processed as a speech-to-text application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user requests dealer information by accessing a mobile station application or calling a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user location information is at least one of a zip code, an area code and a GPS determined user location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional dealer information is stored in the database and includes different location dealer information.

5. An apparatus configured to process a call for providing dealer information, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request for dealer information;

a processor configured to;

determine whether user preference information and user location information is included in the request,

wherein the user location information comprises location coordinates and a distance radius related to the user location;

wherein at least one of the user preference information and the user location information is not included in the request, prompting the user for the information;

search a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information; and

a transmitter configured to transfer the at least one dealer information to the user via at least one of a text, a voice call, streaming audio and a text-to-speech application;

wherein the information for the at least one dealer is related to the user preference information and the user location information;

wherein the processor is configured to;

prompt the user to try another search request if there are no dealers located within a predefined area of the user location information;

receive a request for additional dealer information from the user and provide the user with the additional dealer information including at least one location for a dealer proximate to the predefined area after the user has received the dealer information;

wherein the request is sent as a voice command and processed as a speech-to-text application.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the user requests dealer information by accessing a mobile station application or calling a telephone number.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the user location information is at least one of a zip code, an area code and a GPS determined user location.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the additional dealer information is stored in the database and includes different location dealer information.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for:

receiving a request at a server for dealer information;

determining whether user preference information and user location information is included in the request;

wherein the user location information comprises location coordinates and a distance radius related to the user location;

wherein at least one of the user preference information and the user location information is not included in the request, prompting the user for the information;

searching a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information;

transferring the at least one dealer information to the user via at least one of a text, a voice call, streaming audio and a text-to-speech application;

wherein the information for the at least one dealer is related to the user preference information and the user location information;

wherein if there are no dealers located within a predefined area of the user location information prompting the user to try another search request;

after the user has received the dealer information, receiving a request for additional dealer information from the user and providing the user with the additional dealer information including at least one location for a dealer proximate to the predefined area; and

wherein the request is sent as a voice command and processed as a speech-to-text application.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user requests dealer information by accessing a mobile station application or calling a telephone number.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user location information is at least one of a zip code, an area code and a GPS determined user location.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the additional dealer information is stored in the database and may includes different location dealer information.