Apparatus and methods for providing geographically oriented internet search results to mobile users

• US 8,548,974 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tewalt, Wayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KUDDUS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/188,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,990 Days
• Field of Search: 707/707, 707/770
• US Class Current: 707/707
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A method of providing Internet search results to a user on a mobile platform. Search terms are received from the user via a web portal. Information pertaining to the user and/or to the platform is used to identify a marketplace relevant to the user. A search engine is selected based on the identified marketplace. The search terms are submitted to the selected search engine.

Claims

1. A method of providing Internet search results to a user on a mobile platform, the method performed by at least one controller computer in communication with a mobile computing system of the platform, the method comprising:

receiving search terms from the user via a web portal of the mobile computing system;

obtaining an identification of the platform as to a fleet that includes the platform and obtaining a departure location for the platform and a destination of the platform, the obtaining performed by the at least one controller computer accessing a ground-based fleet information source;

identifying a search marketplace for the user based on at least one of the following;

(a) the destination of the platform, (b) the departure location for the platform, and (c) a destination to which the user is traveling that is different from the destination of the platform, (d) without requiring the user to input the information used to identify the marketplace;

selecting one of a plurality of search engines, the selecting performed by the at least one controller computer using the identified search marketplace and a database in which the plurality of search engines are associated with a plurality of search marketplaces, the database configured to provide for selection of a search engine from the plurality of search engines on at least a geographic basis;

submitting the search terms to the selected search engine; and

using the platform identification to return one or more search results received from the selected search engine to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying search results received from the selected search engine to the user, the displaying performed based at least in part on a physical location of the user relative to the platform.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform includes an aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a platform seat location of the user with search results from the selected search engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fleet information source provides information from an aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of the search engines based at least in part on a language associated with the identified search marketplace.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein submitting the search terms comprises using at least one of the following to refine the search terms:

a platform type, a user location in the platform, a type of user device, a user setting, and a user profile.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a search toolbar client of a device of the user to obtain information related to the user and obtained on another platform.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising using an entertainment system of the platform to receive the search terms from the user.

10. An apparatus for providing Internet search results to a user on a mobile platform, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile computing system of the platform, the mobile computing system having at least one processor and memory configured to execute instructions to provide a portal accessible on the platform whereby a user may enter an Internet search request; and

a ground system in communication with the mobile platform computing system, the ground system having at least one controller computer, a source of fleet information pertaining at least to a fleet that includes the mobile platform, and a database in which a plurality of search marketplaces are associated, on at least a geographic basis, with a plurality of search engines accessible via the ground system;

the at least one controller computer having at least one processor and memory configured to execute instructions to;

receive a search request from the user via the portal;

obtain data from the fleet information source identifying the platform and at least one of a departure location and a destination of the platform;

use at least one of the obtained fleet information source data and a destination of the user different from the destination of the platform to identify a search marketplace;

use the database to select a search engine from the plurality of search engines based on the identified search marketplace, without requiring the user to input the information used to identify the marketplace;

submit the search request to the selected search engine; and

send search results received from the selected search engine to the user based on the obtained fleet information source data identifying the platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, configured to provide search results to one or more users on one or more aircraft.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a user device connected to the portal whereby the user enters the search request; and

a toolbar client operating in the user device;

the at least one controller computer further configured to store information in the toolbar client for refining a subsequent search request by the user when the user is on another mobile platform for which the apparatus is configured to provide search results.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fleet information source provides information from an aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS).

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user provides travel-related information to the apparatus to obtain authorization to use the apparatus, the at least one controller computer further configured to use the travel-related information to personalize the search request.

15. An apparatus for providing Internet search results to users on one or more aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

on each aircraft, a mobile computing system having at least one processor and memory configured to execute instructions to provide a portal whereby a user on the aircraft may enter an Internet search request; and

a ground system configured to communicate with each aircraft mobile computing system, the ground system having at least one controller computer, an aircraft fleet information source, and a database in which a plurality of search marketplaces are associated, on at least a geographic basis, with a plurality of search engines accessible via the ground system;

the at least one controller computer having at least one processor and memory configured to execute instructions to;

receive a search request from a user via the portal of one of the aircraft;

obtain data from the fleet information source identifying the one of the aircraft and at least one of a departure location and a destination of the one of the aircraft;

identify a search marketplace for the user based on at least one of the obtained aircraft fleet information source data and a destination to which the user is traveling that is different from the destination of the one of the aircraft;

use the database to select a search engine from the plurality of search engines based on the identified search marketplace, without requiring the user to input the information used to identify the marketplace;

submit the search request to the selected search engine; and

send search results received from the selected search engine to the user;

the sending performed using the fleet information source data identifying the one of the aircraft.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the mobile computing system of each aircraft comprising a server configured to receive the search results from the ground system and to serve the search results to the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further configured to execute instructions to refine the search results based on a section of the aircraft in which the user is physically located.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, the ground system configured to communicate with each aircraft mobile computing system via at least one satellite.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, the portal of one of the aircraft provided via an entertainment system of the one of the aircraft.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, the aircraft fleet information source configured to provide aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) information.