Contextual search interface for business directory services

• US 20040054691A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Ping, Sharma, Jayant, Qian, Liujian, Yang, Ji
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

Business directory services allow definitions of custom category hierarchies and different search methods, such as, for example, search by location, distance from an addressable location, partial or complete business name, and category. A stepwise refinement search interface provides capability for searching within search results using different search methods or categories. Thus, a user does not have to refine and re-enter search criteria in order to get a progressively selective search. This is particularly useful for mobile phone or hand-held device users who would prefer not to have to re-enter the criteria on each search but rather incrementally refine the search criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing business directory services from a networked client, the method comprising:

receiving a search parameter from a user;

repeating, until a satisfactory level of granularity is reached;

sending the search parameter to a business directory server;

receiving, from the business directory server, results of the search responsive to the search parameter; and

receiving, from the user, an additional search parameter for searching within the search results.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the search parameter is based at least in part on user preferences stored in the client.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences comprise preferences for initial geographic location around which to base the search.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the initial geographic location is determined based on a location of the client.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the search parameter comprises a search type parameter, and wherein the search type parameter can be at least one of the following:

find a listing, brose listings, and browse a category.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the search parameter comprises searching within a selected distance from a selected geographical object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the search parameter is stored in a context object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the context object is encoded in an XML schema.

2. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the search results to the user in such a way as to simplify selection of the additional search parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the client is at least one of:

an email client, a web-based client, and a wireless device client.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless device client is a cellular phone.

12. A networked client for providing business directory services, the client comprising:

a user interface for receiving a search parameter from a user;

an encoding module for encoding the search parameter in a context object;

a communications module for transferring the search parameter to a business directory server;

a user interface for displaying search results received from the business directory server; and

a user interface for receiving a second search parameter from a user for a search within the search results received from the business directory server.

13. The networked client of claim 12, wherein the search parameter comprises a search type parameter, and wherein the search type parameter can be at least one of the following:

find a listing, browse listings, and browse a category.

14. The networked client of claim 13, wherein the search parameter further comprises a combination of search types.

15. The networked client of claim 12, wherein the client is at least one of the following:

an email client, a web-based client, and a wireless device client.

16. A computer program product for providing business directory services to a user, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

instructions recorded on the computer readable medium, including instructions for;

receiving a search parameter from a user; and

repeating, until a satisfactory level of granularity is reached;

sending the search parameter to a business directory server,

receiving, from the business directory server, results of the search responsive to the search parameter, and

receiving, from the user, an additional search parameter for searching within the search results.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the instructions recorded on the computer readable medium further comprise instructions for displaying the search results to the user in such a way as to simplify selection of the additional search parameter.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable medium is enclosed in a wireless communications device.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the search parameter is based at least in part on user preferences stored in the client.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the user preferences comprise preferences for initial geographic location around which to base the search.

21. A networked client for providing business directory services, the client comprising:

means of receiving a search parameter from a user; and

means for repeating, until a satisfactory level of granularity is reached, operations by;

means for sending the search parameter to a business directory server,

means for receiving, from the business directory server, results of the search responsive to the search parameter, and

means for receiving, from the user, an additional search parameter for searching within the search results.

22. The networked client of claim 21, wherein the search parameter comprises a type parameter, and wherein the type parameter is at least one of the following:

lookup a listing, browse listings, and browse a category.

23. The networked client of claim 21, wherein the client is embodied in a wireless device.

24. A computer-implemented method for providing business directory services, the method comprising:

receiving, by a dispatcher module, a search request containing a context object;

transferring the search request from the dispatcher module to a business directory server module;

searching a database responsive to at least one search parameter encoded in the context object; and

encoding results of the database search in a second context object.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the context object is encoded in an XML schema.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the second context object is encoded in the XML schema.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the database contains data from at least two vendors.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, further comprising selecting an appropriate data vendor based on the search parameter.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the data from the at least two vendors are integrated into one database schema.

30. A computer-implemented business directory server, the business directory server comprising:

a dispatcher module adapted to receive search parameters within a context object from a client;

a business directory server module for processing search requests containing context objects forwarded to it by the dispatcher module; and

a database containing business directory data.

31. The business directory server of claim 30, wherein the search parameters comprise a type parameter, and wherein the type parameter is at least one of the following:

lookup a listing, browse listings, and browse a category.

32. The business directory server of claim 30, wherein the database contains data from at least two vendors.

33. The business directory server of claim 30, wherein the context object is encoded in a request using an XML schema.

34. The business directory server of claim 30, wherein the business directory server module is further adapted to convert results of the search into a second context object.

35. The business directory server of claim 34, wherein the second context object is encoded in an XML schema before transfer to the client.

36. A system for providing business directory services, the system comprising:

means for receiving, by a dispatcher module, a search request containing a context object;

means for transferring the search request from the dispatcher module to a business directory server module;

means for searching a database responsive to at least one search parameter encoded in the context object; and

means for encoding results of the database search in a second context object.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for encoding results of the database search in a second context object further comprise means for encoding the second context object in an XML schema.

38. A computer program product for providing business directory services, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

instructions recorded on the computer readable medium, including instructions for;

receiving, by a dispatcher module, a search request containing a context object;

transferring the search request from the dispatcher module to a business directory server module;

searching a database responsive to at least one search parameter encoded in the context object; and

encoding results of the database search in a second context object.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the instructions recorded on the computer readable medium further comprise instructions for encoding the second context object in an XML schema.