U.S. patent application number 09/935364 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for system and method for accessing local information by using referencing position system.
Invention is credited to Chan, Jawe, Chang, Ting-Mao.
Application Number | 20020049742 09/935364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22962264 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020049742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan, Jawe ; et al. |
April 25, 2002 |
System and method for accessing local information by using
referencing position system
Abstract
A system and method for searching a database over a computer
network for information relating to items located in a particular
geographic area as specified by a user. The database is accessed
and built-up by users interested in making their items known to the
public (e.g., advertising). The items include articles of
merchandise, services, events, and persons. The information stored
in the database relating to the items includes a description of the
provider of the item (e.g., a vendor, or an event sponsor), a
description of the item, and the current geographical location of
the item. The geographical location of the item may be defined
using Global Position System ("GPS") coordinates or other
positioning technologies (e.g., network-based techniques). The user
searches for item information in the database by specifying a
description of the item and a search area within which items
matching the description are to be located.
Inventors: |
Chan, Jawe; (San Jose,
CA) ; Chang, Ting-Mao; (San Jose, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SKJERVEN MORRILL MACPHERSON LLP
25 METRO DRIVE
SUITE 700
SAN JOSE
CA
95110
US
|
Family ID: |
22962264 |
Appl. No.: |
09/935364 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09935364 |
Aug 22, 2001 |
|
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09253931 |
Feb 22, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.001; 707/E17.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99935 20130101;
Y10S 707/92 20130101; Y10S 707/99943 20130101; G06F 16/9537
20190101; Y10S 707/99933 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 9, 2000 |
US |
PCT/US00/03349 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for a computing device to interact with a user, the
method comprising: receiving information relating to a search
object, including information describing a current geographical
location of the search object; storing the information in a
database used by the computing device; receiving a search request
from the user for information pertaining to the search object,
wherein the search request includes search criteria used to
identify the search object, the search criteria including an area
in which the search object is geographically located; processing
the request, including searching the database using the search
criteria; and sending a result of the processing to the user,
wherein the result includes information relating to the search
object satisfying the search criteria, including the current
geographical location of the search object.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving and the sending are
performed over a communication link.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts recited in claim 1 are
performed using a stand-alone computer.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the storing
is performed in response to receiving the information relating to
the search object; and wherein the processing and the sending are
performed in response to receiving the search request.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the search object is selected
from the following group consisting of: a piece of merchandise, a
service, an event, and a person.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is selected
from the following group consisting of: a handheld computer, a
portable computer, and a mobile telephone.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the current geographical location
of the search object includes either a postal address or position
coordinates.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the position coordinates includes
either Global Position System coordinates or network-based position
coordinates.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria include a
keyword describing the search object.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria include a
Boolean expression describing the search object.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the search area is defined by an
area and at least one point in the area.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the point is specified by
either a postal address or position coordinates.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the area is specified by any
one selected from the following group: a distance, a governmental
district, a street name, or an additional point.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the governmental district is
selected from the following group consisting of: a postal code, a
name of a municipality, a name of a state or province, a name of a
county, or a name of a town.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the distance operates as a
radius of circle with the point as the circle's center.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information
includes pricing information for the search object.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pricing information
includes a purchase price.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pricing information further
includes discount and promotional information relating to the
purchase price.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria includes a
price range.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes pricing
information for the search object.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information
includes a description of the search object.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a
description of the search object.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information
includes a description of a vendor of the search object.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a
description of a vendor of the search object.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information
includes a description of an event.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a
description of an event.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a
description of a sponsor of an event.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information
includes a description of a person.
29. The method of claim 1, wherein the result identifies a
pre-determined number of search objects satisfying the search
criteria.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a map
displayable on the user's computing device which marks the current
geographical location of the search object on the map.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the map further displays the
current geographical location of the user.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the result further provides
routing information between the geographical location of the search
object marked on the map and the current location of the user.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the routing information
includes driving directions.
34. The method of claim 1, wherein: the receiving of information is
performed for a plurality of search objects; the processing is
performed for a plurality of search requests received from a
plurality of users; and the sending is performed in response to the
plurality of search requests.
35. A computer system comprising a computer connected to a computer
network, and computer instructions executed by the computer for
performing the acts in claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Application
No. 09/253,931, filed Feb. 22, 1999, and the International
Application No. PCT/US00/03349, filed Feb. 9, 2000, both of which
are herein incorporated by reference in entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a system and method for storing
and retrieving information relating to items ("search objects")
based upon where the search objects are geographically located as
specified by a user.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0003] The Internet is a revolutionary technology to access
information. Through the Internet, users access information from
around the world with a click of a mouse button. The Internet is a
powerful and convenient media to provide or receive information.
Companies, for example, promote their products and services online,
as well as perform direct sales. To access particular information,
a user typically either needs to know the website address for the
particular information, or use a search engine to perform a keyword
search of the Internet for the particular information. Because the
amount of information on the Internet is growing explosively, the
use of search engines to locate particular information desired by a
user often results in the retrieval of information that is
substantially irrelevant to the user. This often results because
the user seeks information relevant to the user's local geographic
area (hereafter "local information"), whereas the information
retrieved using the search engine is relevant to geographic areas
remote to the user (hereafter "remote information").
[0004] In the prior art, the voluminous information available over
the Internet is typically organized by means of categories. Most
search engines, for example, categorize the information using
characteristics of the information. For example, Yahoo! Inc.
(www.yahoo.com) categorizes information into automobile, travel,
computer, political, and stock quote categories, among others. The
user then chooses the relevant category within which to make a more
particularized search. This approach generally reduces the quantity
of information returned from a search, but nevertheless yields too
much information for the user to manage. This approach also
generally does not adequately distinguish between the local
information typically sought by the user, from the plethora of
remote information typically available over the Internet.
[0005] Some websites on the Internet categorize information by
geographic area. In these cases, information is typically
categorized by a predefined area which is typically a governmental
district, such as a ZIP code area, a city, a county, a state, or a
country. One example of this type of categorizing is found at
Sidewalk website (www.sidewalk.com), an website application
produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. The Sidewalk
website provides access to an online application and database that
enables a user to retrieve local information relating to particular
types of stores using a Boolean search criteria and specification
of a pre-defined geographic area; geographic areas are specified in
terms of a ZIP code, a city, a county, a state, or a country. After
the application retrieves the stores satisfying the search criteria
and geographic area, a map is returned to the user marking the
geographic location of the stores on the map. The Sidewalk
application has the disadvantage that the geographic areas
specified by the user are pre-defined; the user may not, for
example, specifying geographic areas of finer granularity than a
zip code or a county (e.g., a shopping mall), or define geographic
areas that overlap the predefined geographic areas (e.g., cross
city limits). Another disadvantage is that the information returned
to the user is limited to information relating to store
information, instead of information relating to particular
merchandise sold by the store which is of importance for assisting
users who are shopping for the merchandise. In addition, the
Sidewalk application does not return driving directions to a
particular store or shopping location except the map; the user must
therefore extrapolate the direction from the map. Lastly, the
information retrieved by the Sidewalk application may be stale, for
example, the store may have moved long before the data relating to
the move used by the Sidewalk application is updated.
[0006] Another prior art system is found in many Global Position
System (GPS) applications. Use of GPS technologies is more popular
in Europe and Japan than in the United States. A GPS receiver
receives signals from several satellites and then determines the
current position of the receiver. The GPS receiver usually has a
built-in small computer. A typical application using GPS
technologies includes a mobile computing device displaying a map
showing the current geographical location of the GPS receiver on a
map. The map is either pre-stored in the computing device or
downloadable from a remote location through a communications link,
such as a wireless network. An application program executing within
the mobile computing device may use the current position
coordinates of the GPS receiver to search a built-in database for
nearby gas stations, hospitals, or restaurants. The built-in
database is stored in a memory device of the computer, for example,
flash memory or a CDROM. It has the disadvantages that information
might be obsolete and that the geographic area within which the
search is conducted is not selectable by the user.
SUMMARY
[0007] A system and method for searching a database over a computer
network for information relating to items located in a particular
geographic area as specified by a user. The database is accessed
and built-up by users interested in making their items ("search
objects") known to the public (e.g., advertising). The search
objects include articles of merchandise, services, events, and
persons, among others. The information stored in the database
relating to the search objects includes a description of the
provider of the item (e.g., a vendor, or an event sponsor), a
description of the item, and the current geographical location of
the search object. The geographical location of the search object
may be defined using Global Position System ("GPS") coordinates or
any other positioning technologies, such as conventional
network-based positioning techniques. The user initiates a search
for search object information in the database by specifying a
description of the search object and a search area within which
search objects matching the description are to be located.
[0008] In some embodiments, a search result is sent to the user
which includes a map of the search area, and the current geographic
locations of the user and the search objects satisfying the search
marked on the map. In some embodiments, additional links are
displayed to the user for selection to access additional
information relating to the search objects, such a discounts and
promotions of merchandise. In some embodiments, additional links
may include embedded instructions that instruct the system to
generate directions (e.g., driving direction) for routing the user
to the current location of a selected search object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
components of a server computer compatible with some embodiments of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating multiple client
computers connected to the server computer system of FIG. 1 via
communication links, according to some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
components of a client computer in FIG. 2 compatible with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing
a search request received from a user, according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a screenshot illustrating a graphical user
interface ("screen") for merchandise searching, according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a screenshot illustrating search results returned
from a merchandise search, according to some embodiments of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a screen for performing a search for events,
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a screen for performing a search for people,
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As used herein, a "search object" refers to an object for
which a user seeks information and which is geographically located
in an area specified by the user. A search object typically
includes any item of interest to a group of users, such as an
article of merchandise (a good), a service, or an event. A search
object may also include, as another example, such diverse objects
as a person, or real property.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a programmed computer 10
(hereafter "System") for storing and retrieving local information
relating to search objects in accordance with some embodiments of
the present invention. The System 10 is generally implemented using
any conventional general-purpose computer having conventional
computer components, including at least one processor 11, program
memory 12, a communication device 13, and at least one database 14
for storing the local information relating to the search objects.
In some embodiments, the System 10 is programmed with system
application program 7 (the program is illustrated for purposes of
simplicity as loaded in program memory 12) causing the System 10 to
operate as a network information server implementing the various
processes of the present invention.
[0019] In some embodiments, the System 10 communicates to a
plurality of remote computers 20-22 (hereafter "client computers")
via a communication device.
[0020] Communication device 13 includes any conventional
communication device well-known to those skilled in the art, such
as a modem, a network interface card. In yet other embodiments, a
user 26 accesses the System directly as a stand-alone application
computer via a peripheral device, such as monitor 19 and
mouse/keyboard directly connected to processor 11 via system bus
16. In yet other embodiments, a user may download a portion of the
database 14 to the client computing device, e.g., 20, executing a
stand-alone application using the downloaded database portion. In I
some embodiments, client computers 20-22 include a variety of
computing devices, such as a PDA or mobile telephone. System
application program 7 is generally executed in any conventional
operating system, such as Windows NT Server, manufactured by
Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, and Unix-based Solaris,
manufactured by Sun Microsystems, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif. System
application program 7 is generally programmed in any conventional
general-purpose programming language, such as Java and C++, any
combination of general-purpose programming languages, or any
combination of a general-purpose programming language and a more
specialized programming language, such as a scripting language
(Perl).
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, user 23-25 accesses the System 10
via communications network 27. A user 23 may include a provider of
search object information (hereafter "information provider") in
addition to a user seeking search object information. Accordingly,
an information provider, e.g., 23, generally includes anyone
desiring to upload information relating to search objects of
interest to the public user. An information provider 23 includes,
for example, a vendor selling articles of merchandise or services,
a promoter of, e.g., an entertainment event, or a private
individual wishing to make his personal characteristic discoverable
to the general public, or a selected subset of the general public.
In accordance with the present invention, the information provider
uploads a description of the search object and the current
geographical location of the search object. In some embodiments,
the current geographical location of the search object may be
specified by position coordinates, such as latitude and longitude,
and optionally altitude. In some embodiments, the position
coordinates include the GPS coordinates of the search object. In
yet other embodiments, the current geographical location may be
specified by a postal code or a street address which is then
subsequently, in some embodiments, converted into position
coordinates by the System 10 prior to storing a record of the
search object in the database 14. In yet other embodiments,
conventional network-based position technologies may be used to
define current geographical locations. By enabling any information
provider to access the database to upload search object information
for access by the general public, the System 10 provides an
efficient mechanism-the self-interest of the information
provider-for ensuring that the search object information provided
by information provider is current. In some embodiments, a
third-party commercial information provider may contract to perform
updation of data in the database 14 on behalf of one or more other
information providers.
[0022] In some embodiments, database 14 is implemented using any
general-purpose commercial database management system, such as
Oracle 8I, manufactured by Oracle Corporation of Redwood Shores,
Calif. It should be noted that although database 14 is illustrated
as a central database in FIG. 1, database 14 may be distributed
across multiple computers. (In like manner, the processes
constituting the System 10 may generally be distributed across
multiple computers using conventional distributed computing
techniques.) Database 14 may additional be implemented using
relational data techniques, or object-oriented techniques, or a
combination of relational and object-oriented techniques. Using
relational database techniques, the information relating to each
search object is organized in a database schema in which, for
example, information describing the search object and the current
geographic position of the search object are stored in associated
tables.
[0023] Differing types of information may be stored in the database
depending upon the type of search object. For example, in the case
of articles of merchandise, services and commercial events, the
stored information may include pricing information, including
discounts and promotions. In the case of event information, the
time when the event is scheduled to occur and the event sponsor may
also be stored. In the case of persons uploading personal
information about themselves or someone else, the personal
information may include the person's hobbies, age, occupation,
height, and weight, among other personal characteristics.
Information relating to each search object, however, further
includes the current geographical position of the search object. In
the case of articles of merchandise and services, the current
geographical location of the vendor of the merchandise and services
offered for sale may be uploaded into the database 14. In the case
of events, information relating to where the event is scheduled to
occur may be uploaded onto the database 14. In the case of persons,
the current geographical location of the person may be periodically
uploaded; in addition, a user uploading personal characteristics
may maintain control over access to his or another's personal
characteristics and current geographical location by other
users.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates different prior art techniques for
performing communication between client computers 22-22 and the
System 10 via a communication link, according to some embodiments
of the present invention. In some embodiments, for example, client
computer 21 communicates with the System 10 using a conventional
direct dial-up connection via telephone line 25. In other
embodiments, client computer 20 communicates with System 10 via a
computer network 27, such as the Internet, an intranet, a WAN, a
LAN, or a wireless network. In these embodiments, data
communication is performed using conventional protocols, such as
TCP/IP. In yet other embodiments, client computer 22 communicates
with the System 10 via a conventional radio frequency link 29. It
should be noted that any conventional techniques for performing
communication between computing devices over a communication link
are generally compatible with the various embodiments of the
present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the hardware components of a client
computer in FIGS. 1-2 for retrieving search object information in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Client
computer, e.g. 20, includes any conventional general-purpose
computer having conventional computer components--e.g., at least
one processor 31, program memory 32, a mouse/keyboard 34, a monitor
35, a modem 36. In some embodiments, client computer 20 includes a
mobile computing device, such as a PDA, a mobile telephone or a
portable computer. In general, any computing device capable of
communicating information to a central server may be used in
various embodiments of the present invention.
[0026] In some embodiments, client computer 20 is connected to a
conventional GPS receiver 37 which is used as a positioning
instrument, periodically updating the current geographical location
information supplied by the GPS receiver to the client computer 20.
In some embodiments, the GPS receiver may be implemented as an
add-in card that plugs into the system bus 38 of the client
computer 20; in yet other embodiments, a stand-alone GPS receiver
37 (or one operating as an add-in card in a second computer (not
shown)) is conventionally connected to the client computer 20 via,
for example, an I/O port on the client computer. In other
embodiments, the user knows his position coordinates without using
a positioning instrument; in these cases, is the user simply enters
the position coordinates into the client computer 20 via, for
example, a keyboard 34.
[0027] In some embodiments, the System 10 is implemented as a
Web-based application using the World Wide Web communication
protocol well-known to those skilled in the art (i.e., HTTP over
TCP/IP). These embodiments have the advantage of instant access to
large numbers of applications and users already familiar with
Web-based technologies. Accordingly, in some network-based
embodiments of the present invention, a graphical user interface
that includes an ordered set of HTML, XML or WAP webpages provides
an interactive environment for the user to access the
functionalities constituting the System 10; the webpages are
typically displayed on the client computer using an ordinary
Web-browser application program (or a WAP-enabled mini-browser)
running in a conventional (or proprietary) operating environment on
the client computer 20 (or mobile computing device).
[0028] On the server side, the System 10 is implemented using, for
example, a conventional Web server, such as the Apache Web Server,
maintained by the Apache Software Foundation (more information
relating to the Apache Web Server may be obtained at
www.apache.org.) In some embodiments of the present invention, the
webpages are dynamically generated and processed using scripting
programs--such as CGI scripts written in Perl--uploaded into the
Web server (e.g., the Web server CGI bin). Numerous conventional
technologies may be used to implement the Web-based information
processing services of the present invention, such as the use of
servlets, applets, and JSP pages within a Java virtual machine, or
competing Microsoft technologies using ASP pages.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of processing a search object
request by the System 10, according to some embodiments of the
present invention. The process is interactive, with System 10
responding to user input made, typically, via a graphical user
interface displayed on a client computer. In some embodiments, the
user fills in pre-defined fields (FIG. 5) and then uses a mouse 33
to instruct the client computer to send the information to the
System 10. In stage 41, the System 10 receives information defining
a geographical point as specified by the user. The geographical
point may be defined in various ways in different embodiments, such
as using position coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates or
network-based position coordinates), a postal address, or a street
intersection. In some embodiments, a default value may be assumed
by the System 10 in the absence of receiving the geographical point
information; in some embodiments, the default value includes the
current geographical position of the user generated by a
positioning instrument.
[0030] In stage 42, the System 10 receives a search area as
specified by the user. The search area defines a geographical area
(hereafter "area") containing the geographical point of stage 41.
The area may be specified in various ways, including, for example,
a distance, a governmental district, a street name, or a second
geographical position (e.g., a postal address or position
coordinates). A governmental district in turn may be specified in
numerous ways, including, e.g., a zip code, a name of a city, a
name of a state or province, a name of a county, or a name of a
municipality, or the name of school district. An area defined as a
distance (or a second geographical position) is used by the System
10 in some embodiments to define a search area consisting of a
circle with a radius equal to the distance centered on the
geographical position. User input of a geographical point and an
area-thereby defining a search area-constrains the scope of
information search and retrieved by the System 10 for the user; in
particular, only information relating to search objects
geographically located within the search area are returned to the
user. In this manner, the System 10 efficiently searches and
retrieves the relevant local information for the user, instead of
in many cases an abundance of unwanted, remote information. In the
default case, for example, where the current geographical location
of the user substantially defines the search area, the System 10
automatically retrieves information relating to search objects in
the user's geographical proximity. In other cases, the user may
specify a search area covering a geographical area in which the
user expects to be located at during some time in the future; in
this case, the System 10 enables a mobile user to search for search
objects in generally any search area, such as search areas
anticipating the movement of the user.
[0031] In stage 43, the System 10 receives a Boolean search
expression or one or more keywords describing the type of search
object to be retrieved, and converts the expression or keywords
into an appropriate database query used for matching search objects
in the database with the query. The use of Boolean search
expressions and keywords for performing database queries is
well-known in the art, and any conventional techniques for
implementing these processes, such as parsing the Boolean
expression and converting it into an SQL query, is compatible with
the various embodiments of the present invention. In stage 44, the
System 10 receives additional information depending upon the type
of search object sought by the user; the additional information is
then used in combination with the search expression/keywords in
stage 43 for creating a more precise query. For example, FIGS. 5-6
are screenshots illustrating a graphical user interface (hereafter
"screen") 51 to the System 10 for searching for articles of
merchandise and services, according to some embodiments of the
present invention. As illustrated, screen 51 includes a merchandise
criteria field 54, a merchandise price field 55, a position field
52, and an area range field 53. The user enters the Boolean search
expression/keyword description in the merchandise criteria field
54, and additional information including the pricing information in
a merchandise price field 55 (stage 44A). The additional pricing
information field 55 is also used in some embodiments in a screen
for searching for services (not shown). Additional fields not
illustrated in FIGS. 5-6 may be used to assist the user in defining
a particular search object. In like manner to articles of
merchandise and services, a screen 60 used for searching for events
includes a time criteria field 72. This field enables the user to
specify a time range within which the searched-for event is
scheduled to occur (stage 44B).
[0032] In stage 45, the System generates a database query using the
information provided by the user via the client computer (for
example, via screen 51, 60 and 80. In stage 46, the System 10
searches the search object data in the database against the search
criteria specified by the user (or added by default by the System
10 or specified in a user profile in the absence of specification
by the user). In some embodiments, the search objects having a
current geographic location within the search area (defined, e.g.,
by fields 54 and 55) and which additionally match the search and
price criteria (fields 54 and 55) are returned to the user.
[0033] In stage 47, the System 10 returns the result of the
database query to the user.
[0034] In some embodiments, the result will include information
describing the search object, and the geographical location of the
search object. FIG. 5-8 illustrate screens rendered on the client
computer used to perform stages 41-43 according to some embodiments
of the present invention. In some embodiments, the screens are
implemented in HTML, XML or WAP for display on a web browser
executing in the client computer. There are several input boxes and
buttons on the screens to accept input from the user. FIGS. 5-6
illustrate a screen used for searching for merchandise (or,
alternatively, services) compatible with some embodiments of the
present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the results of the
search in some embodiments include a listing of the business names
of a predetermined number (e.g., 3) of merchants 61b offering for
sale the article of merchandise defined by a Boolean search
expression (e.g., "Yamaha AND Piano" 54). Additional links may be
provided in table 60 for providing additional access to the user to
relevant information relating to the merchandise, such as current
promotions or discounts. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the System 10 further queries a map database (not shown)
using the received searching area and the current geographical
position of the requesting user. The map database then returns a
map 90 covering the searching area. In some embodiments, the System
10 marks the map with index numbers and symbols identifying the
current geographical location of the user 56, and the merchants
57-59 offering for sale the searched-for merchandise.
[0035] The system could further help the user by providing a
routing service because processor 31 knows each of received
merchandise positions. The user requests a routing service by
moving the cursor and clicking on an index number on map 67.
Processor 31 then transmits the routing request to computer 10
through the Internet. In some embodiments, the routing request
includes the current geographical location of the user and the
current geographical locations of the user the returned search
objects. The destination position is the current geographical
location of a returned search object. In some embodiments, the user
may select a link associated with a search object to cause the
System 10 to determine the best route from the user's current
geographical location the destination position of the selected
search object. In some embodiments, the best route is determined in
terms of the shortest driving distance; in other embodiments, the
best route may be defined in terms of time, if a real-time traffic
database is provided in computer system 10. In other embodiment, a
route (e.g., driving directions) may be generated from the user to
the selected search object if a route database is accessible to the
System 10, or if a routing application executing on the client
computer has access to a route database.
[0036] Although the description above contains many specific
details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some embodiments
of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be
determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents,
rather than by the examples given.
* * * * *
References