System and method for conducting a search using a wireless mobile device

• US 7,477,909 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Roth, Daniel Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US11/263,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/419, 455/435.1, 709/206, 703/3, 704/9, 705/4, 705/14, 707/3, 726/7, 725/23, 715/810, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• 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

A method and system are provided by which a wireless mobile device takes a vocally entered query and transmits it in a text message format over a wireless network to a search engine; receives search results based on the query from the search engine over the wireless network; and displays the search results.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining query results on a wireless mobile device comprising the steps of:

speaking a query to said wireless mobile device;

converting, in said mobile device, said query into text;

transmitting said text by said mobile device using a messaging protocol over a wireless network to a search engine;

performing a search based on said text with said search engine;

transmitting search results using said messaging protocol over said wireless network;

formatting said search results; and

displaying said search results on said wireless mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging protocol is a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging protocol is a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said query and said text are not displayed on said wireless mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless network is a mobile phone network and said wireless mobile device is a mobile phone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said search results are formatted on said wireless mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said search results are transmitted from said search engine to an intermediary site and formatted at said intermediary site.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting said formatted search results to said wireless mobile device from said intermediary site.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless mobile device uses a graphic display to display said formatted search results.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving advertisements;

formatting said advertisements with said search results; and

displaying formatted advertisements with search results on said wireless mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

synthesizing speech from said formatted search results on said wireless mobile device; and

transmitting said synthesized speech over said wireless mobile device.

12. A method for submitting a query and receiving results on a wireless mobile device comprising the steps of:

speaking to said wireless mobile device a predefined command for starting a query;

speaking requisite information for said query to said wireless mobile device;

converting said information to text in said wireless device;

formatting, in said wireless device, said text for a messaging protocol to create a message;

addressing resulting message to a search engine; and

transmitting said message from said wireless device, over a wireless network to said search engine.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of prompting for said requisite information by visual prompt.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of prompting for said requisite information by audio prompt.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio prompt is pre-recorded and stored on said mobile device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio prompt is synthesized on said mobile device.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said query is selected from a list of available queries on said wireless mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said list of available queries is generated in response to a prior search history stored on said wireless mobile device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said list of available queries is generated based on the location of said wireless mobile device.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said list of available queries is pre-stored on said wireless mobile device.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said list of available queries is downloadable from a remote site.

22. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving search results over said wireless network from said search engine.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of formatting said search results.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of displaying said search results on said wireless mobile device.

25. A system for making a query and receiving results over a wireless mobile device comprising:

said wireless mobile device comprising;

a voice input;

a speech to text converter in communication with said voice input;

a text to text protocol converter in communication with the speech to text converter; and

a wireless transmitter in communication with the text to text protocol converter; and

a wireless receiver in communication with said channel;

a channel said channel in communication with said wireless transmitter and said wireless receiver; and

a search engine comprising;

a search engine receiver in communication with said channel;

a search engine in communication with said search engine receiver; and

a search engine transmitter in communication with said search engine and said channel;

wherein said voice input is converted to a message and transmitted by said wireless transmitter through said channel to said search engine, and said search engine transmits search results to said wireless receiver for display.

26. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a voice input;

a speech to text converter in communication with said voice input;

a text to text protocol converter in communication with the speech to text converter;

a wireless transmitter in communication with the text to text protocol converter and a channel;

a receiver in communication with said channel; and

an output device in communication with said receiver;

wherein said voice input is converted to a message and transmitted by said wireless transmitter through said channel to a search engine, and search results from said search engine are received by said receiver and displayed by said output device.

27. A system for returning query results over a wireless mobile device system comprising:

a mobile device means comprising;

means for inputting speech;

means for converting speech to text;

means for converting said text to a message that is compatible with said text protocol;

means for transmitting said message over a wireless network; and

means for displaying search results; and

a search means comprising;

means for performing a search based on terms of said message; and

means for returning search results over said wireless network.

28. A method for monetizing a search performed on a wireless mobile device comprising:

speaking a query to said wireless mobile device;

transmitting said query from said wireless mobile device over a wireless network to a search engine;

receiving search results by said wireless mobile device from said search engine over said wireless network;

receiving advertisements by said wireless mobile device over said wireless network;

formatting said search results and said advertisements;

displaying said search results and said advertisements on said wireless mobile device; and

recovering a monetary remuneration in response to said query.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of receiving said advertisements by said wireless mobile device over said wireless network.

30. The method of claim 28 whereas said advertisements are pre-stored on said wireless mobile device.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein said advertisements are originated from said search engine and said monetary remuneration is from said search engine.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein said advertisements are originated from an advertisement provider and monetary remuneration is from said advertisement provider.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein said advertisements are originated from a particular vendor of goods and services and monetary remuneration is from said vendor.