Device for saving results of location based searches

• US 20080134088A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tse, Ed, Kansal, Sachin S., Stewart, William Kam
• Application Number:
  US11/731,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

Results of a Location Based Search can be saved for later use. The results can be saved as a contact in a contacts application. The device may automatically populate various fields of a contact based on a request by a user to save the search result as a contact. Once saved as a contact, the location based search result contact may be used to place a phone call, send an e-mail, access a website, review a menu, or take some other action.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising a user input device and a processing circuit configured to run a location based search application and a contact application, the processing circuit configured to perform a location based search in response to a user input, the search configured to return search results, the processing circuit configured to save information from at least one of the search results as a contact in the contact application.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to place a phone call based on information in the saved contact.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the location based search comprises receiving a user input requesting a search, receiving a user input of search criteria, and retrieving search results from a location information database based on the user input of search criteria.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the location information database is remote from the electronic device.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a portable device, and the processing circuit is configured to provide a user a search criteria option to search based on the current location of the portable device.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein

the search results are configured to be displayed to a user on a display of the electronic device,

the processing circuit is configured to receive a user input of a selection of at least one of the search results, and

the processing circuit is configured to provide a menu options selectable by a user, the menu of options including an option to save the at least one search result as the contact in the contacts application.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the search criteria are received in a top-level screen of the electronic device.

8. The device of claim 3, further comprising retrieving the search results from the location information database based on a current location of the electronic device, the current location configured to be determined based on information from a location circuit of the electronic device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to use information from the saved contact in a non-location application.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising,

an audio circuit configured to facilitate voice communication over a network;

a cellular transceiver coupled to the processing circuit, the cellular transceiver configured to transfer voice information between the audio circuit and a cellular network and to transfer data information between the processing circuit and a cellular network;

a display configured to display information including the results of the location-based search; and

a housing configured to house the cellular transceiver, the audio circuit, the display, the processing circuit, and the user input device, the housing having a volume of less than 2550 cubic centimeters.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the housing has a volume of up to 540 cubic centimeters.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising updating information saved in the contact based on an update of information in a location information database used to conduct the location based search.

13. A method, comprising:

performing a location based search configured to provide search results using a location application, the location-based search initiated on a portable hand-held device;

saving information from at least one of the search results on the portable hand-held device without requiring a user to input the information manually; and

accessing saved information from the at least one of the search results using a non-location application.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing the information from the at least one of the search results using a non-location application comprises accessing an e-mail address saved for the at least one of the search results using an e-mail application of the processing circuit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing the information from the at least one of the search results using a non-location application comprises accessing a phone number saved for the at least one of the search results using a phone application of the processing circuit.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising accessing the information from the at least one of the search results using a location application.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein saving information from at least one of the search results comprises saving contact and non-contact information for the at least one of the search results.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein saving information from at least one of the search results comprises saving the information in an application run by the processing circuit, the method further comprising synchronizing the information saved in the application run by the processing circuit with a contacts application run by a system remote from the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein saving information from at least one of the search results comprises saving the information in a contacts application of the hand-held device.

21. A method performed by a portable electronic device, comprising:

conducting a search configured to provide search results, the search initiated on the portable hand-held electronic device; and

automatically creating a contact and populating fields of the contact in a contacts application of the portable hand-held electronic device based on information corresponding to at least one of the search results.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the fields that are automatically populated comprise contact information fields.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the fields that are automatically populated comprise at least one non-contact information field.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the non-contact information field comprises a system information field.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising accessing information from at least one of the populated fields of the contact using a phone application of the portable device.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising placing a call from the phone application using a cellular transceiver of the portable electronic device based on the accessed information in response to a user input on a user input device housed by a housing of the portable electronic device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

saving the contact in a memory contained within the housing of the portable electronic device

displaying information from the contact using a display housed by the housing of the portable electronic device; and

transferring audio information using an audio circuit housed by the housing of the portable electronic device in response to the phone call placed based on the accessed information.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein conducting the search comprises receiving a user input from an input field on a top-level screen of the portable electronic device.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein conducting the search comprises conducting the search based on information from a location circuit of the portable electronic device.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein conducting the search comprises conducting the search using a location information database remote from the portable electronic device 1.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising accessing the location information database using a cellular transceiver of the portable electronic device.