Directing service requests to providers
First Claim
1. One or more computer-readable storage devices that store executable instructions to have a first request served by a service provider, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform acts comprising:
- receiving the first request from a user;
determining a type of service to which the first request relates;
identifying a service provider that provides said type of service for said user, said first request comprising a first text string that identifies said type of service and a second text string that describes information to be provided by said service provider, there being a choice of plural providers that can provide said type of service identified by said first text string, there being one specific type of service associated with said first text string;
converting said first request into a second request, wherein said second request is in a format accepted by said service provider; and
communicating, to a machine associated with said user, a redirection instruction that instructs said machine to issue said second request to a site associated with said service provider.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A redirection service may be used to direct a user'"'"'s request to specific providers of various types of services. When a user requests a web service (e.g., mapping, search, bookmarks, weather reports, etc.), the request is received by a redirection service. The redirection service identifies a provider of the service, and issues a redirect instruction to the user'"'"'s browser that redirects the browser to the identified service provider. The service provider may be determined by user selection, by default, or by any other mechanism. In one example, the user'"'"'s request for a service comes by selecting a link included in a web page. In another example, a user issues a direct request for the service in the form of a command. The command may be entered, in one example, through a browser or desktop search box.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. One or more computer-readable storage devices that store executable instructions to have a first request served by a service provider, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform acts comprising:
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receiving the first request from a user; determining a type of service to which the first request relates; identifying a service provider that provides said type of service for said user, said first request comprising a first text string that identifies said type of service and a second text string that describes information to be provided by said service provider, there being a choice of plural providers that can provide said type of service identified by said first text string, there being one specific type of service associated with said first text string; converting said first request into a second request, wherein said second request is in a format accepted by said service provider; and communicating, to a machine associated with said user, a redirection instruction that instructs said machine to issue said second request to a site associated with said service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of responding to a service request, the method comprising:
using a processor to perform acts comprising; receiving the service request from a machine associated with a user, wherein the service request comprises a first indication of a service to be provided; determining a type of service that is requested by said service request; identifying a service provider that responds to requests, from said user, for said type of service, said first indication comprising a first text string that identifies said type of service and a second text string that describes information to be provided by said service provider, there being a choice of plural providers that can provide said type of service identified by said first text string, there being one specific type of service associated with said first text string; creating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that comprises; a domain of said service provider; and a second indication of said service to be provided, wherein said second indication comprises, or is derived, from said first indication; and sending, to said machine, a redirection instruction to redirect a browser on said machine to said URL. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for responding to service requests, the system comprising:
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a processor; a data remembrance component; and a redirection component that is stored in said data remembrance component and that executes on said processor, wherein said redirection component receives, from a machine associated with a user, first information that comprises; an indication of a type of service to be provided; and an argument that describes second information that is being requested through said type of service; wherein said redirection component identifies a service provider that provides said type of service for said user, wherein said redirection component creates a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that requests said second information from said service provider, and wherein said redirection component communicates, to said machine through a network, an instruction for a browser on said machine to redirect to said URL, said indication comprising a first text string that identifies said type of service, said argument comprising a second text string that describes information to be provided by said service provider, there being a choice of plural providers that can provide said type of service identified by said first text string, there being one specific type of service associated with said first text string. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
wherein said redirection component looks up, in said database, said user'"'"'s choice of provider for said type of service, and uses said user'"'"'s choice in creating said URL.
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16. The system of claim 14, wherein said redirection component determines that said user has not chosen a provider for said type of service, and sends, to said machine, a user interface that requests that said user choose a provider for said type of service, wherein said user interface comprises a finite set of providers of said type of service that are supported by said redirection component.
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17. The system of claim 14 said first text string and said second text string being entered through a search box of said browser or through a desktop search box that is provided by a desktop of said machine.
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18. The system of claim 14, wherein said redirection component determines that said machine has not previously used said redirection component to request any service, and wherein said redirection component sets a cookie on said machine to allow said machine to be recognized upon future contacts with said redirection component.
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19. The system of claim 14, wherein said redirection component determines that said user has not previously selected a provider for said type of service, and wherein said redirection component identifies a default provider as said service provider.
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20. The system of claim 14, further comprising:
a data collection component that collects statistics regarding uses of, and choices of, service providers.
Specification