Computer-implemented method to perform location-based searching

• US 7,859,402 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corrino Holdings LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Khi Acquisitions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Miller, John M., Amin, Himanshu S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/926,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A computer implemented method that facilitates conveyance of content is provided. A search query and physical location information are received from a cellular telephone. The query is executed. Search results are filtered as a function of the physical location information. The filtered search results are transmitted to the cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a search query from a communications device, the search query comprising at least one search term;

receiving an indication of the geographic position of the communications device;

searching an index of one or more websites based on the search term, wherein the index of websites is stored in a tangible computer readable medium, wherein at least one website of the index is associated with one or more corresponding location codes, and wherein each location code corresponds to a predefined geographic region;

generating a list of search results based on the search;

generating a list of filtered search results by filtering the search results based at least in part on the indicated geographic position of the communications device and the location codes associated with the one or more websites, wherein the indicated geographic position of the communications device is within a predefined distance outside of a geographic region corresponding to a location code that is associated with at least one of the filtered search results; and

initiating the transmission of the filtered search results to the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user profile information corresponding to the communications device, and filtering the search results based on the user profile information corresponding to the communications device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one website in the index of websites has one or more location codes embedded in the software code of the website.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user demographic information corresponding to the communications device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising filtering the search query based on the user demographic information corresponding to the communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device corresponds to global positioning system (GPS) information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device is based on transceiver locations within a cellular network.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a search query comprising at least one search term from a communications device;

receiving an indication of the geographic position of the communications device;

generating a reformulated search query comprising the at least one search term and the geographic position of the communications device that sent the search query;

searching an index of websites based on the reformulated query, wherein the index of websites is stored in a tangible computer readable medium, wherein at least one website of the index is associated with one or more corresponding location codes, and wherein each location code corresponds to a predefined geographic region;

generating a list of one or more search results based on the search of the index of websites, wherein at least one search result is associated with a location code, and wherein the indicated geographic position of the communications device specified in the reformulated search query is within a predefined distance outside of the geographic region corresponding to the location code associated with the at least one search result; and

initiating the transmission of the search results to the communications device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving user profile information corresponding to the communications device, and wherein the reformulated search query further comprises the user profile information associated with the communications device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one website in the index of websites has one or more location codes embedded in the software code of the website.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising receiving user demographic information corresponding to the communications device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reformulated search query comprises the user demographic information corresponding to the communications device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device corresponds to global positioning system (GPS) information.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device is based on transceiver locations within a cellular network.

15. A system, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive a search query comprising at least one search term from a communications device;

receive an indication of the geographic position of the communications device;

generate a reformulated search query comprising the at least one search term and the indication of the geographic position of the communications device;

search an index of websites based on the reformulated query, wherein at least one website of the index is associated with one or more corresponding location codes, and wherein each location code corresponds to a predefined geographic region;

generate a list of one or more search results based on the search of the index of websites, wherein at least one search result is associated with a location code, and wherein the geographic position of the communications device specified in the reformulated search query is within a predefined distance outside of the geographic region corresponding to the location code associated with the at least one search result; and

initiate the transmission of the search results to the communications device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the reformulated search query further comprises the user profile information associated with the communications device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the reformulated search query further comprises demographic information corresponding to the communications device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device corresponds to global position system (GPS) information.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of the geographic position of the communications device is based on the location of transceivers within a cellular communications network.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one website in the index of websites has one or more location codes embedded in the software code of the website.