System and method for geographically organizing and classifying businesses on the world-wide web

• US 6,691,105 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Virdy, Ajaipal Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, KHANH B
• Application Number:
  US09/500,471
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/6, 707/10, 707/100, 707/501.1, 715/513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/313 Selection or weighting of terms for indexing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A method and search engine for classifying a source publishing a document on a portion of a network, includes steps of electronically receiving a document, based on the document, determining a source which published the document, and assigning a code to the document based on whether data associated with the document published by the source matches with data contained in a database. An intelligent geographic- and business topic-specific resource discovery system facilitates local commerce on the World-Wide Web and also reduces search time by accurately isolating information for end-users. Distinguishing and classifying business pages on the Web by business categories using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes is achieved through an automatic iterative process.

Claims

1. A method for performing a search of network accessible content, the method comprising:

receiving a query;

accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically traversing a network, extracting the geographic data from web documents across the network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database;

searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

returning a result to the query.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the geographic data includes a zip code.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the geographic data includes local area exchange information.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein the local area exchange information includes an area code.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the geographic data includes a city and a state.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the source includes uniform resource locators.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

automatically traversing the network to identify the geographic data;

associating the geographic data and the business category code with the source; and

storing the geographic data, the business category code and the associated source in the electronic data store.

60. The method as in claim 1 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

61. The method as in claim 1 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

8. A method of indexing content on a network, the method comprising:

traversing the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator without manual user intervention;

assigning a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database; and

indexing the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

9. The method as in claim 8 wherein the electronic data store includes a searchable database.

10. The method as in claim 8 wherein extracting geographic data includes extracting a zip code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

11. The method as in claim 8 wherein extracting geographic data includes extracting local area exchange information from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein extracting local area exchange information includes extracting an area code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

13. The method as in claim 8 wherein extracting geographic data includes extracting a city and a state from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

14. The method as in claim 8 wherein extracting geographic data includes automatically extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

57. The method as in claim 8 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

62. The method as in claim 8 wherein assigning the business category code includes assigning a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

78. The method as in claim 8 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

15. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

a receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive a query;

an accessing code segment that causes the computer to access data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically traversing a network, extracting the geographic data from web documents across the network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database;

a searching code segment that causes the computer to search the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

a result code segment that causes the computer to return a result to the query.

16. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the geographic data includes a zip code.

17. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the geographic data includes local area exchange information.

18. The computer program of claim 17 wherein the local area exchange information includes an area code.

19. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the geographic data includes a city and a state.

20. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the source includes uniform resource locators.

21. The computer program of claim 15 further comprising:

a traversing code segment that causes the computer to automatically traverse the network to identify the geographic data;

an associating code segment that causes the computer to associate the geographic data and the business category code with the source; and

a storing code segment that causes the computer to store the geographic data, the business category code and the associated source in the electronic data store.

63. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

64. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

22. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for indexing content on a network, comprising:

a traversing code segment that causes the computer to traverse the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

an extracting code segment that causes the computer to extract geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator without manual user intervention;

an assigning code segment that causes the computer to assign a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database; and

an indexing code segment that causes the computer to index the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

23. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the electronic data store includes a searchable database.

24. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the extracting code segment causes the computer to extract a zip code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

25. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the extracting code segment causes the computer to extract local area exchange information from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

26. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the extracting code segment causes the computer to extract an area code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

27. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the extracting code segment causes the computer to extract a city and a state from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

28. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the extracting code segment causes the computer automatically to extract geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

58. The computer program of claim 22 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

65. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the assigning code segment causes the computer to assign a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

79. The computer program of claim 22 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

29. A system for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

means for receiving a query;

means for accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically traversing a network, extracting the geographic data from web documents across the network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database;

means for searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

means for returning a result to the query.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the geographic data includes a zip code.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the geographic data includes local area exchange information.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the local area exchange information includes an area code.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the geographic data includes a city and a state.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the source includes uniform resource locators.

35. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for automatically traversing the network to identify the geographic data;

means for associating the geographic data and the business category code with the source; and

means for storing the geographic data, the business category code and the associated source in the electronic data store.

66. The system of claim 29 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

67. The system of claim 29 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

36. A system of indexing content on a network, comprising:

means for traversing the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

means for extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator without manual user intervention;

means for assigning a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database; and

means for indexing the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the electronic data store includes a searchable database.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for extracting geographic data includes means for extracting a zip code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for extracting geographic data includes means for extracting local area exchange information from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the means for extracting local area exchange information includes means for extracting an area code from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

41. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for extracting geographic data includes means for extracting a city and a state from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

42. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for extracting geographic data includes means for automatically extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator.

59. The system of claim 36 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

68. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for assigning the business category code includes means for assigning a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

80. The system of claim 36 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

43. A method for performing a search of network accessible content, the method comprising:

receiving a query;

accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associating the geographic data with a source;

accessing an information source external to the web document and searching the information source for geographic data related to the web document, wherein the information source is a source other than the web document;

associating a business category code with the source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with the geographic data contained in the information source;

searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

returning a result to the query.

44. The method as in claim 43 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is accessed using at least an information source external to the web document.

45. The method as in claim 43 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is verified using at least an information source external to the web document.

69. The method as in claim 43 wherein the information source includes a Yellow Pages database.

70. The method as in claim 43 wherein associating the business category code includes associating a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code with the source.

46. A method of indexing content on a network, the method comprising:

traversing the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator;

accessing an information source external to the identified content and searching the information source for geographic data related to the identified content, wherein the information source is a source other than the identified content;

assigning a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in the information source; and

indexing the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

47. The method as in claim 46 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is accessed using at least an information source external to the identified content.

48. The method as in claim 46 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is verified using at least an information source external to the identified content.

71. The method as in claim 46 wherein assigning the business category code includes assigning a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

81. The method as in claim 46 wherein the infonnation source includes a Yellow Pages database.

49. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

a receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive a query;

an accessing code segment that causes the computer to access data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associate the geographic data with a source;

an external accessing code segment that causes the computer to access an information source external to the web document and search the information source for geographic data related to the web document, wherein the information source is a source other than the web document;

an associating code segment that causes the computer to associate a business category code with the source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with the geographic data contained in the information source;

a searching code segment that causes the computer to search the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

a result code segment that causes the computer to return a result to the query.

50. The computer program of claim 49 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is accessed using at least an information source external to the web document.

51. The computer program of claim 49 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is verified using at least an information source external to the web document.

72. The computer program of claim 49 wherein the information source includes a Yellow Pages database.

73. The computer program of claim 49 wherein the associating code segment causes the computer to associate a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code with the source.

52. A system for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

means for receiving a query;

means for accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associating the geographic data with a source;

means for accessing an information source external to the web document and means for searching the information source for geographic data related to the web document, wherein the information source is a source other than the web document;

means for associating a business category code with the source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with the geographic data contained in the information source;

means for searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

means for returning a result to the query.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is obtained using at least an information source external to the web document.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the geographic data associated with a web document is verified using at least an information source external to the web document.

74. The system of claim 52 wherein the information source includes a Yellow Pages database.

75. The system of claim 52 wherein the the means for associating business category code includes means for associating a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code with the source.

55. A method for performing a search of network accessible content, the method comprising:

receiving a query;

accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database without manual user intervention;

searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

returning a result to the query.

56. The method as in claim 55 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

76. The method as in claim 55 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

77. The method of claim 55 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

82. A system for indexing content on a network, the system comprising:

means for traversing the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

means for extracting geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator;

means for accessing an information source external to the identified content and searching the information source for geographic data related to the identified content, wherein the information source is a source other than the identified content;

means for assigning a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in the information source; and

means for indexing the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is accessed using at least an information source external to the identified content.

84. The system of claim 82 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is verified using at least an information source external to the identified content.

85. The system of claim 82 wherein the means for assigning the business category code includes means for assigning a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

86. The system of claim 82 wherein the information source includes a Yellow Pages database.

87. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for indexing content on a network, comprising:

a traversing code segment that causes a computer to traverse the network to identify content associated with a uniform resource locator;

an extracting code segment that causes the computer to extract geographic data from the content associated with the identified uniform resource locator;

an accessing code segment that causes the computer to access an information source external to the identified content and search the information source for geographic data related to the identified content, wherein the information source is a source other than the identified content;

an assigning code segment that causes the computer to assign a business category code to the uniform resource locator based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in the information source; and

an indexing code segment that causes the computer to index the identified uniform resource locator and the associated geographic data in an electronic data store.

88. The computer program of claim 87 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is accessed using at least an information source external to the identified content.

89. The computer program of claim 87 wherein the geographic data associated with identified content is verified using at least an information source external to the identified content.

90. The computer program of claim 87 wherein the assigning code segment causes the computer to assign a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to the uniform resource locator.

91. The computer program of claim 87 wherein the information source includes a Yellow Pages database.

92. A system for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

means for receiving a query;

means for accessing data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database without manual user intervention;

means for searching the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

means for returning a result to the query.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

94. The system of claim 92 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

95. The system of claim 92 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

96. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for performing a search of network accessible content, comprising:

a receiving code segment that causes a computer to receive a query;

an accessing code segment that causes the computer to access data stored in an electronic data store containing geographic data obtained by automatically extracting the geographic data from web documents across a network and associating the geographic data and a business category code with a source based on whether the extracted geographic data matches with data contained in a database without manual user intervention;

a searching code segment that causes the computer to search the data stored in the electronic data store for a match to the query; and

a returning code segment that causes the computer to return a result to the query.

97. The computer program of claim 96 wherein without manual user intervention includes without manual entry of geographic data by the user.

98. The computer program of claim 96 wherein the database includes a Yellow Pages database.

99. The computer program of claim 96 wherein the business category code includes a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.