U.S. patent application number 14/772263 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-14 for method and apparatus for querying resources thorough search field.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nokia Technologies Oy. The applicant listed for this patent is NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY. Invention is credited to Ari Aarnio, Shouyan Chen, Zhuoyuan Liao, Yaochu Que, Haisen Wang, Minghui Zhang.
Application Number | 20160012132 14/772263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51579257 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160012132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Que; Yaochu ; et
al. |
January 14, 2016 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR QUERYING RESOURCES THOROUGH SEARCH
FIELD
Abstract
An approach is provided for providing a querying of one or more
resources based on one or more terms from an input within at least
one search field. A querying platform determines an input in at
least one search field, the input comprising at least one resource
identifier and one or more terms. The querying platform further
causes, at least in part, a querying of one or more resources
associated with the at least one resource identifier for content
based, at least in part, on the one or more terms. The querying
platform also causes, at least in part, a querying of one or more
resources associated with the at least one resource identifier for
content based, at least in part, on the one or more terms.
Inventors: |
Que; Yaochu; (Beijing,
CN) ; Aarnio; Ari; (Espoo, FI) ; Wang;
Haisen; (Beijing, CN) ; Liao; Zhuoyuan;
(Beijing, CN) ; Zhang; Minghui; (Beijing, CN)
; Chen; Shouyan; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY |
Espoo |
|
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
Nokia Technologies Oy
Espoo
FI
|
Family ID: |
51579257 |
Appl. No.: |
14/772263 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2013/072807 |
371 Date: |
September 2, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/706 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0482 20130101;
G06F 16/2423 20190101; G06F 16/951 20190101; G06F 3/04842 20130101;
G06F 16/9566 20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06F 3/0482 20060101 G06F003/0482; G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484 |
Claims
1-38. (canceled)
39. A method comprising: determining an input in at least one
search field, the input comprising at least one resource identifier
and one or more terms; causing, at least in part, a querying of one
or more resources associated with the at least one resource
identifier for content based, at least in part, on the one or more
terms; and causing, at least in part, a presentation of the content
in response to the input.
40. A method of claim 39, further comprising: causing, at least in
part, a navigation to the one or more resources, wherein the
presentation of the content is within the context of the one or
more resources.
41. A method of claim 40, wherein the at least one resource
identifier includes at least part of a uniform resource locator
(URL), and wherein the navigation to the one or more resources
comprises causing, at least in part, a directing of a browser
application to the URL, another URL associated with the content, or
a combination thereof.
42. A method of claim 41, wherein the at least one search field is
an address bar of the browser application.
43. A method of claim 39, further comprising: causing, at least in
part, an emphasizing of the one or more terms in the presentation
of the content.
44. A method of claim 39, further comprising: causing, at least in
part, a presentation of a search user interface element for an
entry of the input, wherein the search user interface element
provides a predictive input for the at least one resource
identifier, the one or more terms, or a combination thereof.
45. A method of claim 44, wherein the predictive input includes, at
least in part, providing one or more recommendations for the at
least one resource identifier, the one or more terms, or a
combination thereof as one or more characters of the input are
entered.
46. A method of claim 44, further comprising: causing, at least in
part, a presentation of the search user interface element on at
least one home page of a device.
47. A method of claim 39, wherein the one or more resources
includes, at least in part, one or more applications, the method
further comprising: causing, at least in part, an initiation of the
one or more applications for performing the querying of the one or
more resources, the presentation of the content, or a combination
thereof.
48. A method of claim 39, wherein the one or more terms include, at
least in part, one or more keywords, one or more operators acting
on the one or more keywords, or a combination thereof.
49. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least
one memory including computer program code for one or more
programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code
configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus
to perform at least the following, determine an input in at least
one search field, the input comprising at least one resource
identifier and one or more terms; cause, at least in part, a
querying of one or more resources associated with the at least one
resource identifier for content based, at least in part, on the one
or more terms; and cause, at least in part, a presentation of the
content in response to the input.
50. An apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: cause, at least in part, a navigation to the one or more
resources, wherein the presentation of the content is within the
context of the one or more resources.
51. An apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one resource
identifier includes at least part of a uniform resource locator
(URL), and wherein the navigation to the one or more resources
comprises causing, at least in part, a directing of a browser
application to the URL, another URL associated with the content, or
a combination thereof.
52. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one search field
is an address bar of the browser application.
53. An apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: cause, at least in part, an emphasizing of the one or
more terms in the presentation of the content.
54. An apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: cause, at least in part, a presentation of a search user
interface element for an entry of the input, wherein the search
user interface element provides a predictive input for the at least
one resource identifier, the one or more terms, or a combination
thereof.
55. An apparatus of claim 54, wherein the predictive input
includes, at least in part, providing one or more recommendations
for the at least one resource identifier, the one or more terms, or
a combination thereof as one or more characters of the input are
entered.
56. An apparatus of claim 54, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: cause, at least in part, a presentation of the search
user interface element on at least one home page of a device.
57. An apparatus of claim 49, wherein the one or more resources
includes, at least in part, one or more applications, and the
apparatus is further caused to: cause, at least in part, an
initiation of the one or more applications for performing the
querying of the one or more resources, the presentation of the
content, or a combination thereof.
58. An apparatus of claim 49, wherein the one or more terms
include, at least in part, one or more keywords, one or more
operators acting on the one or more keywords, or a combination
thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless,
cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and
convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling
network services. One way of providing value and convenience is
reducing the time and/or effort associated with completing routine
or common tasks. A common task consumers perform on is navigating
to a resource and querying the resource for one or more terms. Such
a task generally requires the consumer navigating to separate
resources to query the resources based on the one or more terms,
and requires multiple steps. Accordingly, service providers and
device manufacturers face significant technical challenges
associated with simplifying querying the resources using the one or
more terms.
SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0002] Therefore, there is a need for an approach for providing a
querying of one or more resources based on one or more terms from
an input within at least one search field.
[0003] According to one embodiment, a method comprises determining
an input in at least one search field, the input comprising at
least one resource identifier and one or more terms. The method
also comprises causing, at least in part, a querying of one or more
resources associated with the at least one resource identifier for
content based, at least in part, on the one or more terms. The
method further comprises causing, at least in part, a presentation
of the content in response to the input.
[0004] According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at
least one processor, and at least one memory including computer
program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one
memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at
least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to
determine an input in at least one search field, the input
comprising at least one resource identifier and one or more terms.
The apparatus is also caused to cause query one or more resources
associated with the at least one resource identifier for content
based, at least in part, on the one or more terms. The apparatus is
further caused to present the content in response to the input.
[0005] According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage
medium carries one or more sequences of one or more instructions
which, when executed by one or more processors, cause, at least in
part, an apparatus to determine an input in at least one search
field, the input comprising at least one resource identifier and
one or more terms. The apparatus is also caused to query one or
more resources associated with the at least one resource identifier
for content based, at least in part, on the one or more terms. The
apparatus is further caused to present the content in response to
the input.
[0006] According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises
means for determining an input in at least one search field, the
input comprising at least one resource identifier and one or more
terms. The apparatus also comprises means for causing, at least in
part, a querying of one or more resources associated with the at
least one resource identifier for content based, at least in part,
on the one or more terms. The apparatus further comprises means for
causing, at least in part, a presentation of the content in
response to the input.
[0007] In addition, for various example embodiments of the
invention, the following is applicable: a method comprising
facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2)
information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2)
information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part,
on (or derived at least in part from) any one or any combination of
methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to
any embodiment of the invention.
[0008] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating
access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at
least one service, the at least one service configured to perform
any one or any combination of network or service provider methods
(or processes) disclosed in this application.
[0009] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating
creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user
interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface
functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element
and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based,
at least in part, on data and/or information resulting from one or
any combination of methods or processes disclosed in this
application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or
at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of
methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to
any embodiment of the invention.
[0010] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising creating and/or
modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2)
at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least
one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device
user interface functionality based at least in part on data and/or
information resulting from one or any combination of methods (or
processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any
embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting
from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in
this application as relevant to any embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes)
can be accomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile
device side or in any shared way between service provider and
mobile device with actions being performed on both sides.
[0012] For various example embodiments, the following is
applicable: An apparatus comprising means for performing the method
of any of originally filed claims 1-20 and 36-38.
[0013] Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the
invention are readily apparent from the following detailed
description, simply by illustrating a number of particular
embodiments and implementations, including the best mode
contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also
capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details
can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the
accompanying drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of providing a
querying of one or more resources based on one or more terms from
an input within at least one search field, according to one
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of a querying
platform, according to one embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for providing a querying
of one or more resources based on one or more terms from an input
within at least one search field, according to one embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for navigating to one or
more resources in response to an input in at least one search
field, according to one embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for initiating one or
more applications for querying one or more resources, according to
one embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 6A-6F are diagrams of user interfaces utilized in the
processes of FIGS. 3-5, according to various embodiments;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram of hardware that can be used to
implement an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to
implement an embodiment of the invention; and
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset)
that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Examples of a method, apparatus, and computer program for
providing a querying of one or more resources based on one or more
terms from an input within at least one search field are disclosed.
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. It is
apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments
of the invention may be practiced without these specific details or
with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of causing, at least
in part, a querying of one or more resources associated with the at
least one resource identifier for content based, at least in part,
on one or more terms entered into a search field, according to one
embodiment. As discussed above, service providers and device
manufacturers attempt to provide convenience to consumers. Despite
these efforts, with respect to querying one or more resources,
consumers must first navigate to the resources and subsequently
query the resources based on one or more terms. As such, the user
must use multiple different search fields and performs multiple
different steps to query different resources. When performed
numerous times, the multi-step sequence can become tedious.
Further, although search fields exist that allow a user to enter
one or more terms to subsequently query a resource, the search
fields are tied to the one or more resources, which limits the
flexibility of the search fields.
[0026] To address these problems, a system 100 of FIG. 1 introduces
the capability to provide a querying of one or more resources based
on one or more terms from an input within at least one search
field. The system 100 can determine an input from the at least one
search field. The input can include at least one resource
identifier and one or more terms. Upon determining the input, the
system 100 can cause, at least in part, a querying of one or more
resources for content based, at least in part, on the one or more
terms. The one or more resources that are queried are based, at
least in part, on the at least one resource identifier included in
the input. Further, upon querying the one or more resources, the
system 100 can cause, at least in part, a presentation of the
content in response to the input. Based on the foregoing, a user
can use a single search field to query multiple different
resources. Thus, a user no longer needs to navigate to a specific
search field tied to specific resource the user wants to query.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises user equipment
(UE) 101 having connectivity to a querying platform 103 via a
communication network 105. Although FIG. 1 illustrates only one UE
101, the system 100 can accommodate any number of UE 101s. By way
of example, the communication network 105 of system 100 includes
one or more networks such as a data network, a wireless network, a
telephony network, or any combination thereof. It is contemplated
that the data network may be any local area network (LAN),
metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public
data network (e.g., the Internet), short range wireless network, or
any other suitable packet-switched network, such as a commercially
owned, proprietary packet-switched network, e.g., a proprietary
cable or fiber-optic network, and the like, or any combination
thereof. In addition, the wireless network may be, for example, a
cellular network and may employ various technologies including
enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet
radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications
(GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal
mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other
suitable wireless medium, e.g., worldwide interoperability for
microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, code
division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple
access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), wireless LAN (WLAN),
Bluetooth.RTM., near field communication (NFC), Internet Protocol
(IP) data casting, digital radio/television broadcasting,
satellite, mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), and the like, or any
combination thereof.
[0028] The UE 101 is any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal,
or portable terminal including a mobile handset, station, unit,
device, mobile communication device, multimedia computer,
multimedia tablet, Internet node, communicator, desktop computer,
laptop computer, notebook computer, netbook computer, tablet
computer, personal communication system (PCS) device, personal
navigation device, personal digital assistants (PDAs), audio/video
player, digital camera/camcorder, positioning device, television
receiver, radio broadcast receiver, electronic book device, game
device, or any combination thereof, including the accessories and
peripherals of these devices, or any combination thereof. It is
also contemplated that the UE 101 can support any type of interface
to the user (such as "wearable" circuitry, etc.).
[0029] The UE 101 may execute one or more applications 111a-111n
(collectively referred to as applications 111). The applications
111 may include any type of application that may be executed at the
UE 101, such as an Internet browser application, email application,
messaging application, calendar application, file system
application, mapping application, navigation application, operating
system, etc. For example, an application 111a may be an Internet
browser application that allows a user associated with the UE 101
to browse one or more websites. An application 111b may be an email
application that allows a user associated with the UE 101 to
receive, send and view one or more emails associated with one or
more email accounts. Further, an application 111c may include a
file system application or an operating system that allows a user
to view one or more files associated with the UE 101, such as being
stored locally at the UE 101 or stored externally and accessible
through the UE 101 (e.g., stored in a cloud). In one embodiment,
one or more applications constitute one or more resources. By way
of example, an email application 111b may constitute a resource
associated with accessing, sending a viewing emails. A file system
application 111c may constitute a resource associated with
locating, viewing and controlling one or more files within a file
system. Further, in one embodiment, one or more of the applications
111 may be associated with accessing and/or using a resource, such
as an Internet browser application 111a being used to access the
resource of a website, or an email application 111b being used to
access the resource of a database of emails.
[0030] The system 100 further includes the services platform 107
that includes one or more services 109a-109n (collectively referred
to as services 109). Although FIG. 1 illustrates one services
platform 107, the system 100 may include any number of services
platforms 107. The services platform 107 may constitute any
platform that provides one or more services 109 to the system 100
and that is accessible through the communication network 105. In
one embodiment, the services platform 107 may constitute an
Internet web search engine that provides the service of searching
the Internet based on one or more keywords. In one embodiment, the
services platform 107 may constitute one or more information
provisioning service platforms with one or more information
provisioning services 109, such as one or more news organizations.
Such a platform may provide one or more websites for browsing the
information. Such information may include, for example, current
news information, weather information, sports information, a
knowledge resource, etc. In one embodiment, the services platform
107 with the services 109 may include a cloud-based storage service
that allows a user to store user information. Accordingly, the
services platform 107 may provide one or more types of services 109
to the system 100.
[0031] In one embodiment, the services platform 107 and/or one or
more of the services 109 constitute one or more resources. By way
of example, a service 109a may be an Internet search engine that
provides a user the ability to query the Internet based on one or
more keywords. Further, a service 109b may be an Internet website
that provides or includes content, which may include text, images,
sounds, videos, or any other multimedia content. In one embodiment,
the content may be tailored to a specific subject or topic, such as
a website that provides world news, national news, local news, a
distributed information database, etc.
[0032] The system 100 may further include one or more content
providers 113a-113n (collectively referred to as content providers
113). The content providers 113 may provide content to the elements
of the system 100, such as to the UE 101 and/or the querying
platform 103. The content may be, for example, various content
items, such as audio, images and video. In one embodiment, the
content providers 113 may constitute one or more resources, such as
one or more cloud-based storage providers that can be queried for
one or more stored content items.
[0033] The querying platform 103 provides for querying one or more
resources based on one or more terms from an input within at least
one search field within the system 100. Although the querying
platform 103 is illustrated as an independent element in FIG. 1,
the querying platform 103 can be associated and/or integrated with
one or more other elements. By way of example, in one embodiment,
the UE 101 may include an application 111d that performs the
functionality of the querying platform 103. Further, in one
embodiment, one or more applications 111 on the UE 101 may include
built-in functionality of the querying platform 103. Further, in
one embodiment, the services platform 107 and/or one or more
services 109 on the services platform 107 may perform the
functionality of the querying platform 103.
[0034] As discussed above, the querying platform 103 may determine
at least one resource identifier in an input of at least one search
field. The at least one resource identifier can constitute any
format for identifying a resource, and identify the resource either
in whole or in part. By way of example, the resource identifier can
be a Uniform Resource Identifier (e.g., URI). In one embodiment,
the URI can, more specifically, be one of a Uniform Resource
Locator (e.g., URL) and a Uniform Resource Name (e.g., URN). Thus,
a resource identifier in an input of a search field can include,
for example, brand.com, www.brand.com, http://www.brand.com,
ftp://brand.com/, etc. In the foregoing examples, the resource
associated with the resource identifier may constitute, for
example, the website identified by the URL http://www.brand.com.
More specifically, the resource may be the domain associated with
the URL http://www.brand.com or, in one embodiment, may be one or
more sub-domains. Thus, the input resource identifier may be an
abbreviation of an existing resource identifier.
[0035] In one embodiment, the resource identifier may be based, at
least in part, on one or words associated with one or more
applications 111. By way of example, the words email, calendar,
phonebook, file explorer may constitute resource identifiers. For
the foregoing resource identifiers, the corresponding resources may
be, for example, an email application 111b, a calendar application
111e, a phonebook application 111f, and a file system application
111c, respectively. Further, although the foregoing resource
identifiers are one or more types of applications, the resource
identifiers may be the title of the particular application, such as
the resource identifier of Your Email! as the resource identifier
for the resource of the application Your Email!
[0036] In one embodiment, the querying platform 103 allows a user
of a UE 101 to customize the one or more resource identifiers by
pre-defining the resource identifier and the corresponding
resource. By way of example, the querying platform 103 allows a
user to specify the word email as the resource identifier
corresponding to the resource of an email application 111b, or to
specify the word websearch as the resource identifier corresponding
to the resource of an Internet search engine.
[0037] As discussed above, the querying platform 103 further
determines one or more terms within the at least one search field.
The one or more terms specify what is being queried at the one or
more resources associated with the at least one resource
identifier. The one or more terms may include, for example, one or
more keywords, one or more operators acting on the one or more
keywords, or a combination thereof. The one or more keywords
specify the subject and/or topic of what is being queried. The one
or more operators may act on the one or more keywords and/or the
resource. For example, the operators may further define the
relationship of the one or more terms to each other and/or to the
resource identified by the resource identifier. By way of example,
the operators may include Boolean operators, such as AND, OR, NOT,
etc. The operators may further include proximity operators, such as
NEAR, BEFORE, AFTER, WITHIN, etc. The operators may further include
wildcard operators, such as * for expanding a term to include all
forms of a root term, or ? for expanding a search a term to include
all forms of a root term with one additional character. The
operators may be any other known operator to one having ordinary
skill in the art that act on the one or more terms and/or the
resource identifier by the resource identifier.
[0038] In one embodiment, the querying platform 103 receives the
input from a search field associated with an application 111, a
services platform 107, a service 109, or a content provider 113. By
way of example, an Internet browser application 111a may include an
address bar for conventionally specifying an address of a website
to navigate to using the Internet browser application 111a. In such
an embodiment, the querying platform 103 may receive the input from
the address bar of the Internet browser application 111a. In one
embodiment, an application 111c corresponding to a file system
and/or an operating system of the UE 101, or one or more other
applications 111 executed on the UE 101, may include a search
field. By way of example, a home screen and/or portion of an
operating system of a UE 101 may include a search field for finding
information within one or more applications 111 and/or stored at
the UE 101. In this embodiment, the querying platform 103 may
receive the input from the search field.
[0039] Further, in one embodiment, the querying platform 103 may
cause a presentation of a search user interface element for entry
of the input. By way of example, the querying platform 103 may
cause a widget to be presented on the UE 101, such as within the
home screen of the UE 101. Thus, where the UE 101 may otherwise not
include a search field, the querying platform 103 may cause a
presentation of a search user interface element to receive the
input.
[0040] In one embodiment, the querying platform 103 may provide a
predictive input for the input. The predictive input may be for the
at least one resource identifier, the one or more terms, or a
combination thereof. The predictive input allows for one or more
recommendations for the resource identifier, the one or more terms,
or a combination within the input as a user enters one or more
characters. The recommendations of the predictive input can be
based on information stored locally at the UE 101, at the querying
platform 103 associated with the UE 101, associated with one or
more UE 101, one or more services 109, and/or one or more content
providers 113. By way of example, the recommendations of the
predictive input may be based on content within the resource
associated with a resource identifier at least partially entered.
Further, in one embodiment, the predictive input may be provided in
conjunction with one or more predictive input services, such as at
the services platform 107. By way of example, as the user enters
characters for the resource identifier, the querying platform 103
may recommend one or more possible resource identifiers based on
past resource identifiers the user has entered. Upon the user
entering the resource identifier and/or selecting one or more
recommended resource identifiers, the querying platform 103 may
further provide predictive input of the one or more terms. The one
or more terms are predicted according to the same method and can
include predicting both keywords and operators.
[0041] In one embodiment, the user may implicitly select a
recommended resource identifier with the predictive input portion
by stopping the entry of the resource identifier and continuing to
enter one or more terms. Such an implicit selection may be based on
the first or only recommended resource identifier provided in the
predictive input portion 629. Further, in one embodiment, upon the
user entering the resource identifier or selecting a recommended
resource identifier, the querying platform 103 may navigate to the
resource associated with the resource identifier prior to the user
entering one or more terms. In one embodiment, as the user enters
the a partial resource identifier entry, the querying platform 103
may navigate to one or more resources associated with the
recommended resource identifiers provided by a predictive input in
anticipation of the user selecting one of the recommended resource
identifiers.
[0042] Upon the querying platform 103 receiving the input, the
querying platform 103 causes a querying of one or more resources
associated with the at least one resource identifier for content
based, at least in part, one the one or more terms. In one
embodiment, where the resource identifier is associated with an
Internet search engine, the querying platform 103 can access the
Internet search engine and query the one or more terms using the
search engine. The one or more results of the search engine query
can then be returned based on the original input in the search
field of the resource identifier and the one or more terms.
Accordingly, the querying platform 103 allows a user to query more
than one Internet search engine without having to manually navigate
to a search associated with each specific Internet search
engine.
[0043] In one embodiment, the querying platform 103 can cause, at
least in part, a navigation to one or more resources associated
with the resource identifier. The navigation may include, for
example, browsing to an Internet website associated with the
resource identifier for querying the one or more terms. In one
embodiment, the navigation may include directing an Internet
browser application 111a to a URL associated with the resource
identifier. Based on the one or more terms and the content
associated with the URL, the querying platform 103 may further
direct the Internet browser application 111a to another URL
associated with the content. The navigation may alternatively
include, for example, navigating to an application 111 executed at
the UE 101 for querying the one or more terms.
[0044] Upon querying the one or more terms, the querying platform
103 may then cause a presentation of the content within the context
of the one or more resources. Where, for example, the resource is
an Internet search engine, the presentation of the content may be
in the form of presenting the search results in the context of an
Internet search engine results website based on the one or more
terms. Where, for example, the resource is a website (which may not
constitute an Internet search engine), the presentation of the
content may be in the form of presenting the one or more terms from
the input in the context of the website. In one embodiment, the
presentation may include emphasizing the one or more terms within
the context of the resource. The emphasis may include any format
change that even further distinguishes the one or more terms
presented from the other content of the resource. By way of
example, the emphasis may include highlighting, bolding,
underlining, italicizing, increasing a font size, inverting,
etc.
[0045] In one embodiment, where the at least one resource is
associated with an application 111, the querying platform 103 can
cause an initiation of the one or more applications for performing
the querying of the one or more resources, the presentation of the
content, or a combination thereof. By way of example, where the at
least one resource identifier in the input includes an email
application 111b, the querying platform 103 may initiate the email
application 111b for performing the querying. In such an example,
the one or more terms may be associated with a particular email
that the user is looking for. Further, the querying platform 103
may initiate the email application 111b for presenting one or more
emails that match the one or more terms based on results of the
query.
[0046] By way of example, the UE 101, the querying platform 103,
the services platform 107, and the content providers 113
communicate with each other and other components of the
communication network 105 using well known, new or still developing
protocols. In this context, a protocol includes a set of rules
defining how the network nodes within the communication network 105
interact with each other based on information sent over the
communication links. The protocols are effective at different
layers of operation within each node, from generating and receiving
physical signals of various types, to selecting a link for
transferring those signals, to the format of information indicated
by those signals, to identifying which software application
executing on a computer system sends or receives the information.
The conceptually different layers of protocols for exchanging
information over a network are described in the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model.
[0047] Communications between the network nodes are typically
effected by exchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet
typically comprises (1) header information associated with a
particular protocol, and (2) payload information that follows the
header information and contains information that may be processed
independently of that particular protocol. In some protocols, the
packet includes (3) trailer information following the payload and
indicating the end of the payload information. The header includes
information such as the source of the packet, its destination, the
length of the payload, and other properties used by the protocol.
Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocol includes
a header and payload for a different protocol associated with a
different, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for
a particular protocol typically indicates a type for the next
protocol contained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is
said to be encapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers
included in a packet traversing multiple heterogeneous networks,
such as the Internet, typically include a physical (layer 1)
header, a data-link (layer 2) header, an internetwork (layer 3)
header and a transport (layer 4) header, and various application
(layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) headers as defined by the OSI
Reference Model.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of the querying
platform 103, according to one embodiment. By way of example, the
querying platform 103 includes one or more components for providing
a querying of one or more resources based on one or more terms from
an input within at least one search field. It is contemplated that
the functions of these components may be combined in one or more
components or performed by other components of equivalent
functionality. In this embodiment, the querying platform 103
includes an input module 201, a navigation module 203, an
application module 205, a presentation module 207 and a query
module 209.
[0049] The input module 201 receives the input from at least one
search field. The search field may be associated with an
application 111 and/or a service 109 that is separate from the
querying platform 103. The querying platform 103 may interface with
the application 111 and/or the service 109 to receive the input. In
such a case, the application 111 and/or service 109 may already
include the search field. By way of example, an Internet browser
application 111a may include an address bar for conventionally
entering an address of a website. The querying platform 103 may
interface with the Internet browser application 111a to receive the
input from the address bar. In one embodiment, the querying
platform 103 may further create and present a search user interface
element at a user interface associated with the UE 101 for entry of
the input and for directly receiving the input. The querying
platform 103 may cause a presentation of the search user interface
element where an application 111 and/or service 109 does not
already include a search field.
[0050] In one embodiment, the input module 201 can provide
predictive input for the at least one resource identifier, the one
or more terms, or a combination thereof. The predictive input
provides one or more recommendations for the at least one resource
identifier, the one or more terms, or a combination thereof as one
or more characters of the input are entered. The recommendations
may be based on, for example, one or more behaviors and/or profiles
associated with the UE 101, the user of the UE 101, or a
combination thereof, crowd sourcing information, context
information, or a combination thereof. Information used for making
the recommendations may be stored locally at the UE 101 and/or
externally, such as at one or more services 109 and/or content
providers 113.
[0051] The navigation module 203 may cause a navigation to one or
more resources associated with the resource identifier in the
input. The navigation may include navigating to one or more
resources local and/or external to the UE 101. The navigation may
include, for example, navigating to an external website, such as
directing an Internet browser application 111a to navigate to a URL
associated with or represented by the resource identifier. The
navigation may also include navigating to a content provider 113.
The navigation may further include causing the Internet browser
application 111a to navigate to multiple URLs in series based on
the results of the querying with respect to multiple resources
associated with the URLs. By way of example, an initial navigation
may be to a first website that includes one or more linked
websites. Based on the result of the query of the first website,
one or more of the linked websites may be associated with the one
or more terms. Accordingly, the navigation module 203 may cause a
navigation to one of the lined websites. The navigation may also
include navigating to an internal application 111 executing on the
UE 101 associated with the resource identifier.
[0052] In one embodiment, when the querying platform 103 navigates
to one or more resources, the navigation may occur as entry of the
resource identifier is completed but prior to completing entry of
the input. By way of example, upon entering a resource identifier
but prior to entering one or more terms, the querying platform 103
may cause a navigation to the resource associated with the resource
identifier and may query the resource based on the one or more
terms as the terms are subsequently entered.
[0053] The application module 205 may interface with one or more
applications 111 at the UE 101 for performing the querying and/or
presenting of the content. Where the input includes a resource
identifier associated with an application 111, the application
module 205 may determine whether the application 111 is currently
running at the UE 101. If the application 111 is not running, the
application module 205 can cause an initiation of the application.
Further, the application module 205 can cause the application 111
to perform the querying using one or more functions and/or
processes internal to the application 111, such as search for an
email, a song, a video, a calendar entry, etc. Further, the
application module 205 can interface with the application 111 to
cause a presenting of the content associated with the one or more
terms. The application module 205 can interface with the
applications 111 according to one or more application programming
interfaces (API).
[0054] The presentation module 207 causes the presentation of the
content from the one or more resources. Where one or more
applications 111 are associated with presenting the content, the
presentation module 207 can interface with the application module
205 for determining how the content is presented and the context of
the presentation. By way of example, where an Internet browser
application 111a is presenting content based on the querying, the
presentation module 207 can interface with the application module
205 to determine how the content is presented within the Internet
browser application 111b. The presentation module 207 can further
cause an emphasizing of the one or more terms in the presentation
of the content. The emphasizing can include highlighting, bolding,
underlining, etc. the one or more terms in the content to
distinguish the terms within the content.
[0055] The query module 209 queries the one or more resources
associated with the resource identifier for content that is based,
at least in part, on the one or more terms from within the input.
The querying may be in conjunction with a resource, such as
interfacing with an application for querying a resource associated
with an application; for example a list of emails, a group of
songs, a calendar of appointments, etc. The querying may also
include querying for where the one or more terms appear in content
of a resource, such as querying where one or more terms appear in
the content of a website. The querying may also include using an
Internet search engine to query for the one or more terms within
the Internet. The query module 209 determines the resource
associated with the resource identifier within the input and
determines to query the resource. Accordingly, within a single
search field, a user may specify different resource identifiers
associated with different resources. Thus, the user may query one
or more terms with different resources from the convenience of a
single search field and with the convenience of entering a single
input, requiring only one step.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for providing a querying
of one or more resources based on one or more terms from an input
within at least one search field, according to one embodiment. In
one embodiment, the querying platform 103 performs the process 300
and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a
processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 8. In step 301, the
querying platform 103 determines an input in at least one search
field. In one embodiment, the search field may be an address bar
associated with an Internet browser application 111a or a search
field associated with a home page of an UE 101. The one or more
terms may include one or more keywords describing content that the
user would like to query at the resource. The one or more terms may
also include one or more operators for acting on the one or more
keywords or the at least one resource identifier.
[0057] The at least one resource identifier within the input be of
any format for identifying a resource, and identify the resource
either in whole or in part. By way of example, the where resource
identifier is based on a URL, the resource identifier be entered
into the search field as domain.com. However, a full URL may be
http://www.domain.com. Thus, either of these may be entered as the
resource identifier in the input, or a variation between the two.
Thus, a resource identifier in an input of a search field can
include, for example, domain.com, www.domain.com,
http://www.domain.com, ftp://domain.com/, etc. In the foregoing
examples, the resource associated with the resource identifier may
constitute, for example, the website identified by
http://www.domain.com. More specifically, the resource may be the
domain associated with http://www.domain.com or, which may include
sub-domains. Further, the resource identifier may be any resource
identifier described above, and may be associated with any resource
as described above.
[0058] In step 303, the querying platform 103 causes, at least in
part, a querying of one or more resources associated with the at
least one resource identifier for content based, at least in part,
on the one or more terms. The querying can include, for example,
the querying platform 103 analyzing content associated with the at
least one resource for the one or more terms. The querying can also
include, by way of example, the querying platform 103 causing one
or more applications 111, services 109, content providers 113, or a
combination thereof associated with the resource to query the
resource for the one or more terms. By way of example, the querying
platform 103 may cause an email application 111b to query for one
or more emails associated with the one or more terms. Further, the
querying platform 103 may cause a file system application 111c to
query for one or more elements within a file structure (e.g.,
files, directories, drives, etc.) based on the one or more terms.
Further, the querying platform 103 may cause an Internet search
engine associated with the resource to query for content based on
the one or more terms. Thus, the querying can be performed by the
querying platform 103, or may be directed by the querying platform
103 and performed by one or more applications 111, one or more
services 109, and/or one or more content providers 113.
[0059] In step 305, the querying platform 103 causes, at least in
part, a presentation of the content in response to the input. The
querying platform 103 may cause, for example, one or more
applications 111 associated with the resource to present content
based on the one or more terms. The content may be, for example,
information presented by a website, one or more search results
provided by an Internet search engine, etc. Accordingly, in one
embodiment the content is presented within the context of the one
or more resources. However, the querying platform 103 may
alternatively cause a presenting of the content independent of the
context of the one or more resources. By way of example, the
querying platform 103 may cause a presentation of a list of results
from an Internet search engine independently from the context of
the results associated with the Internet search engine. Thus, the
results of the querying may be presented in a single context and/or
location independent of the resource that is queried.
[0060] In accordance with the process 300, a user can enter a
single input, which may include at least one resource identifier
and one or more terms, into a search field and query various
resources merely by changing the resource identifier. As such, the
querying can be more efficient by allowing the user to enter the
resource and the terms into a single input.
[0061] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for navigating to one or
more resources in response to an input of the one or more resources
and one or more terms in at least one search field, according to
one embodiment. In one embodiment, the querying platform 103
performs the process 400 and is implemented in, for instance, a
chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 8. In
step 401, the querying platform 103 causes, at least in part, a
navigation to the one or more resources. The navigation to the one
or more resources may constitute the querying platform 103 causing
an application to navigate to the resources, such as by causing an
application associated with a cloud storage service to navigate to
a website associated with the cloud storage. The navigation may
also constitute causing an Internet browser application 111a to
navigate to a specific website that is identifier as the
resource.
[0062] After querying the one or more resources based on the one or
more terms, and presenting the content from the one or more
resources, in step 403 the querying platform 103 may cause, at
least in part, an emphasizing of the one or more terms in the
presentation of the content. Thus, the presentation of the content
may include emphasizing the portions of the content that correspond
to the one or more terms. The emphasis may include any format
change that distinguishes the one or more terms from the other
content. By way of example, the emphasis may include highlighting,
bolding, underlining, italicizing, increasing a font size, etc.
Thus, by way of example, upon querying for an email associated with
an email resource, the one or more terms appearing in the bodies of
one or more emails may be distinguished from the other words in the
emails by, for example, highlighting the one or more terms.
Emphasizing the terms allows the user to quickly see where in the
emails the one or more terms appear. By way of another example, a
user may query a website based on one or more terms to determine
where in the website the terms appear. Upon presenting the website
within the context of the Internet browsing application 111a, the
querying platform 103 may cause the one or more terms appearing
within the content to be emphasized from other words within the
content. Thus, the user can quickly distinguish what part of the
website corresponds to the search terms and what part does not.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for initiating one or
more applications for querying one or more resources, according to
one embodiment. In one embodiment, the querying platform 103
performs the process 500 and is implemented in, for instance, a
chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 8. In
step 501, the querying platform 103 causes, at least in part, a
presentation of a search user interface element for an entry of the
input. Although, the querying platform 103 can use one or more
search fields to receive the input, in step 501 the querying
platform 103 can generate a search field specific to the querying
platform 103 and present the search field as a search user
interface element. The search user interface element allows a user
of the UE 101 to query a resource based on one or more terms
without having to access another application 111 and/or service 109
and/or use a search field associated with the other application 111
or service 109. In one embodiment, the search user interface
element may be presented as part of a home page of the UE 101, such
as top level user interface element to allow for easy access to the
functions of the querying platform 103.
[0064] Further, where the querying platform 103 causes a
presentation of a search user interface element, the search user
interface element may provide a predictive input. The predictive
input may be for the at least one resource identifier, the one or
more terms, or a combination thereof. The predictive input allows
for one or more recommendations for the resource identifier, the
one or more terms, or a combination within the input as a user
enters one or more characters. By way of example, as the user
enters characters for the resource identifier, the querying
platform 103 may recommend one or more possible resource
identifiers based on past resource identifiers the user has entered
at the UE 101. Similarly, as the user enters characters for the one
or more terms, the querying platform 103 may recommend one or more
possible terms. However, in one or more embodiments, the querying
platform 103 may further provide predictive input associated with
one or more search fields that are not generated or presented in
response to the querying platform 103.
[0065] In step 503, when the one or more resources associated with
an entered resource identifier include, at least in part, one or
more applications, the querying platform 103 may cause, at least in
part, an initiation of the one or more applications for performing
querying of the one or more resources, the presentation of the
content, or a combination thereof. By way of example, when the
search user interface element is presented, such as at a home page
of the UE 101, the querying platform 103 may cause an application
identified by the resource identifier or associated with the
resource to initiate. For example, the querying platform 103 may
cause an email application to start to allow a user to query emails
based on the one or more terms. Further, a calendar application may
start that allows a user to query appointments based on the one or
more terms. Upon the applications initiating, the querying platform
103 causes the querying associated with the applications.
[0066] In addition to the querying, the querying platform 103 may
also cause a presenting of the content performed by the initiated
applications. Thus, in the above examples, the one or more emails
or one or more appointments that constitute the content may be
presented by the initiated applications 111. Thus, the user can
access one or more additional functions in response to the query
using the native functions associated with the applications 111.
Further, although the applications 111 may be presenting the
content, the content may be further emphasized by the querying
platform 103 causing the applications 111 to emphasize the content,
as discussed above.
[0067] FIGS. 6A-6F are diagrams of user interfaces utilized in the
processes of FIGS. 3-5, according to various embodiments. FIG. 6A
illustrates a user interface 601 associated with, for example, an
Internet browser application 111a of the UE 101. The user interface
601 may include indicators 603 for navigating between websites on
the Internet. Further, the user interface 601 may include an
address bar 605 that conventionally allows a user to enter an
address, such as a URL, of a website. Further, the user interface
includes an indicator 607 that, when selected by a user, causes the
Internet browser application 111a to navigate to the website
associated entered in the address bar. However, for the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 6A, the querying platform 103 may interface
with the Internet browser application 111a such that a user may
treat the address bar 605 as a search field. The user may enter at
least one resource and one or more terms into the address bar
(e.g., search field) as an input corresponding to portion 609a and
portion 609b (collectively referred to as input 609). As
illustrated, the portion 609a corresponds to the resource
identifier (e.g., mobilesphones.org). Further, the portion 609b
corresponds to the one or more terms (e.g., brand, phone, and 100).
Upon the user selecting the entered input 609, such as by selecting
the indicator 607, the querying platform 103 may determine the
resource identifier 609a and the one or more terms 609b, cause a
querying associated with the corresponding identified resource, and
present content in response to the input, as discussed in detail
above.
[0068] As a result, FIG. 6B illustrates content 611a presented in
response to the input 609. The content 611a may be from the
resource indentified by portion 613 (e.g.,
http://mobilephones.org/) that corresponds to the resource
identifier 609a. By way of example, the content 611a may be a
website regarding mobile devices. The querying platform 103 may
have directed the Internet browser application 111a to navigate to
the resource 613 in response to the resource identifier 609a in the
address bar 605, which the querying platform 103 treated as a
search field. Further, the querying platform 103 queried the
resource 613 for the one or more terms 609b within the content
611a. To further emphasize the one or more terms 609b within the
content 611a, the querying platform 103 caused an emphasizing of
the one or more terms (e.g., emphasized terms 615) in the content
611a. Based on the emphasized terms 615, the user can more easily
locate within the content 611a the one or more terms 609b that were
in the original input 609 and that the user was looking for. In one
embodiment, the querying platform 103 may interface with the
Internet browser application 111a associated with the user
interface 601 to cause the Internet browser application 111a to
emphasize the one or more terms by using one or more native
functions associated with the Internet browser application 111a,
such as a find function.
[0069] FIG. 6C illustrates the same user interface 601 of FIG. 6A
except for a different resource identifier 617a and different terms
617b (collectively referred to as input 617). Here, the resource
identifier 617a may refer to an Internet search engine service 109
that allows a user to search the Internet for one or more keywords.
Further, the one or more terms 617b may refer to one or more
keywords that the user would like to query the Internet search
engine service 109. Upon the user selecting the entered input 617,
such as by selecting the indicator 607, the querying platform 103
may determine the resource identifier 617a and the one or more
terms 617b, cause a querying of the resource corresponding to the
resource identifier 617a, and present content in response to the
input, as discussed in detail above.
[0070] As a result, FIG. 6D illustrates content 611b presented in
response to the input 617. The content 611b may be from the
resource indentified by portion 619 (e.g., http://websearch.com/)
that corresponds to the resource identifier 617a. By way of
example, the content 611b may one or more results from an Internet
search engine. The querying platform 103 may have directed the
Internet browser application 111a to navigate to the resource 619
in response to the resource identifier 617a in the address bar 605,
which the querying platform 103 treated as a search field. Further,
the querying platform 103 caused the Internet search engine to
query for the one or more terms 617b in the Internet using the
algorithms and/or processes of the Internet search engine. To
further emphasize the one or more terms 617b within the content
611b, the querying platform 103 caused an emphasizing of the one or
more terms (e.g., emphasized terms 615) in the content 611b. Based
on the emphasized terms 615, the user can more easily locate within
the content 611b the one or more terms 617b that were in the
original input 617.
[0071] FIG. 6E illustrates a user interface 621 associated with a
home page of a UE 101. The user interface 621 may include an input
element 623, such as a graphical representation of a keyboard, for
entering characters into a search field 625. As illustrated, the
search field 625 includes the characters m.dom representing a
partial resource identifier entry 627 of a resource identifier.
Further, the user interface 621 includes a predictive input portion
629 that, based on the partial resource identifier entry 627 input
in the search field 625, recommends a resource identifier to
complete the partial resource identifier entry 627. By way of
example, the recommendation for the input m.dom is the resource
identifier m.domain.com. However, depending on the partial resource
identifier entry 627 and the predictive ability, one letter may be
enough to provide one or more recommended resource identifier
within the predictive input portion 629. Such as the user entering
d and the predictive input portion 629 including the resource
identifier m.domain.com. Thus, a user may either continue manually
entering additional characters to complete the partial resource
identifier entry 627 or may select the recommended input.
[0072] In one embodiment, the user may implicitly select a
recommended resource identifier with the predictive input portion
629 by continuing to enter one or more terms. By way of the example
illustrated, the user may enter the partial resource identifier
entry 627 of m.dom. Rather than manually entering the rest of the
resource identifier, or selecting a recommended resource identifier
with the predictive input portion 629, the user may implicitly
select m.domain.com by entering a space and continuing to enter
characters associated with, for example, the one or more terms.
Such an implicit selection may be based on the first or only
recommended resource identifier provided in the predictive input
portion 629.
[0073] Although only one recommended input for the partial resource
identifier entry 627 is illustrated in the predictive input portion
629, more than one may be recommended. Further, in one embodiment,
upon the user entering the resource identifier or selecting a
recommended resource identifier, the querying platform 103 may
navigate to the resource associated with the resource identifier
prior to the user entering one or more terms. In one embodiment, as
the user enters the partial resource identifier entry 627, the
querying platform 103 may navigate to one or more resources
associated with the recommended resource identifiers within the
predictive input portion 629 in anticipation or expectation of the
user selecting one of the recommended resource identifiers.
[0074] FIG. 6F illustrates the user interface 621 of FIG. 6E after
completion of the partial resource identifier entry 627, either by
the user manually completing the resource identifier or by
selecting a recommended identifier provided within the predictive
input portion 629, and displaying the completed resource identifier
631. The user interface 621 may further include a predictive input
portion 633 for recommending one or more terms. Thus, after entry
of the completed resource identifier 631, the user can start
entering letters representing one or more terms that the user is
interested in querying the resource associated with the completed
resource identifier 631. As illustrated, the search field 625
includes partial entry of the characters bra representing a partial
entry of one or more terms. The predictive input portion 633 may be
based on the partial entry 635 of one or more terms after the
completed resource identifier 631. As illustrated, based on the
partial entry 635 of the term bra, the predictive input portion 629
may recommend the six combinations of one or more terms, including
the term brand alone, or in combination with the term phone and
various three digit numbers. As the user enters more characters,
the list of terms within the predictive input portion 633 can be
narrowed. The user may either continue manually entering the one or
more terms or select one of the recommended predictive inputs from
the predictive input portion 629. Upon manually entering a term or
selecting a predictive input term, the user may begin entering
another term, which the predictive input portion 633 can provide
additional recommended terms for. Although only one term of the
partial entry 635 is illustrated, multiple terms may be inputted
and predicted based on the predictive input portion 633. Based on
the predictive input portions 629 and 633, a user can, with little
input, find the result he or she is interested in. In one
embodiment, as the user enters the partial entry 635 of one or more
terms, the querying platform 103 may cause a navigation to the
resource associated with the completed resource identifier 631. In
one embodiment, the querying platform 103 may cause a querying of
the partial entry 635 of the one or more terms, one or more terms
within the predictive input portion 633, or a combination thereof
for a resource associated with the completed resource identifier
631. In one embodiment, a camera associated with the UE 101
displaying the user interface 621 may be used to enter one or more
characters or images, such as quick response (QR) codes or bar
codes, to enter one or more terms or partial terms for determining
recommended terms presented within the predictive input portion
633, or by entering one or more terms independent of the predictive
input portion 633.
[0075] In one embodiment, as described above, terms within the
content of the resource associated with the completed resource
identifier 631 may be used to determine the terms presented in the
predictive input portion 633. By way of example, upon entry of the
completed resource identifier 631, the resource associated with the
completed resource identifier 631 may be loaded in the background
based on the querying platform 103. The content of the resource may
be obtained and words beginning with the partial entry 635 of bra
may be queried within the content. Then, the predictive input
portion 633 may present the results of the query as recommended one
or more terms to complete the partial entry 635. Based on the
example illustrated in FIG. 6F, the term brand may appear in the
content of the resource associated with the completed resource
identifier 631. Further, the terms phone, 100, 110, 120 and 200 may
appear in association with the term brand within the content. Such
an association may be presented with respect to the term brand, as
illustrated within the predictive input portion 633. In one
embodiment, one or more terms may be presented within the
predictive input portion 633 and those terms appearing in the
content of a resource associated with the completed resource
identifier 631 may be presented with a higher priority as compared
to other terms not appearing in the content, such as appearing at
the top of the predictive input portion 633. By way of a further
example, and where the user implicitly selected a resource
identifier, the user may simply enter d bra and the querying
platform 103 may cause a navigation to the resource associated with
the resource identifier of m.domain.com based on the implicit
selection and query for terms beginning with bra.
[0076] The processes described herein for providing a querying of
one or more resources based on one or more terms from an input
within at least one search field may be advantageously implemented
via software, hardware, firmware or a combination of software
and/or firmware and/or hardware. For example, the processes
described herein, may be advantageously implemented via
processor(s), Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, an Application
Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays
(FPGAs), etc. Such exemplary hardware for performing the described
functions is detailed below.
[0077] FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system 700 upon which an
embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Although computer
system 700 is depicted with respect to a particular device or
equipment, it is contemplated that other devices or equipment
(e.g., network elements, servers, etc.) within FIG. 7 can deploy
the illustrated hardware and components of system 700. Computer
system 700 is programmed (e.g., via computer program code or
instructions) to provide a querying of one or more resources based
on one or more terms from an input within at least one search field
as described herein and includes a communication mechanism such as
a bus 710 for passing information between other internal and
external components of the computer system 700. Information (also
called data) is represented as a physical expression of a
measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, but including,
in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic, electromagnetic,
pressure, chemical, biological, molecular, atomic, sub-atomic and
quantum interactions. For example, north and south magnetic fields,
or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent two states (0,
1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena can represent digits of
a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneous quantum
states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). A
sequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is
used to represent a number or code for a character. In some
embodiments, information called analog data is represented by a
near continuum of measurable values within a particular range.
Computer system 700, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for
performing one or more steps of providing a querying of one or more
resources based on one or more terms from an input within at least
one search field.
[0078] A bus 710 includes one or more parallel conductors of
information so that information is transferred quickly among
devices coupled to the bus 710. One or more processors 702 for
processing information are coupled with the bus 710.
[0079] A processor (or multiple processors) 702 performs a set of
operations on information as specified by computer program code
related to providing a querying of one or more resources based on
one or more terms from an input within at least one search field.
The computer program code is a set of instructions or statements
providing instructions for the operation of the processor and/or
the computer system to perform specified functions. The code, for
example, may be written in a computer programming language that is
compiled into a native instruction set of the processor. The code
may also be written directly using the native instruction set
(e.g., machine language). The set of operations include bringing
information in from the bus 710 and placing information on the bus
710. The set of operations also typically include comparing two or
more units of information, shifting positions of units of
information, and combining two or more units of information, such
as by addition or multiplication or logical operations like OR,
exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Each operation of the set of
operations that can be performed by the processor is represented to
the processor by information called instructions, such as an
operation code of one or more digits. A sequence of operations to
be executed by the processor 702, such as a sequence of operation
codes, constitute processor instructions, also called computer
system instructions or, simply, computer instructions. Processors
may be implemented as mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical,
chemical or quantum components, among others, alone or in
combination.
[0080] Computer system 700 also includes a memory 704 coupled to
bus 710. The memory 704, such as a random access memory (RAM) or
any other dynamic storage device, stores information including
processor instructions for providing a querying of one or more
resources based on one or more terms from an input within at least
one search field. Dynamic memory allows information stored therein
to be changed by the computer system 700. RAM allows a unit of
information stored at a location called a memory address to be
stored and retrieved independently of information at neighboring
addresses. The memory 704 is also used by the processor 702 to
store temporary values during execution of processor instructions.
The computer system 700 also includes a read only memory (ROM) 706
or any other static storage device coupled to the bus 710 for
storing static information, including instructions, that is not
changed by the computer system 700. Some memory is composed of
volatile storage that loses the information stored thereon when
power is lost. Also coupled to bus 710 is a non-volatile
(persistent) storage device 708, such as a magnetic disk, optical
disk or flash card, for storing information, including
instructions, that persists even when the computer system 700 is
turned off or otherwise loses power.
[0081] Information, including instructions for providing a querying
of one or more resources based on one or more terms from an input
within at least one search field, is provided to the bus 710 for
use by the processor from an external input device 712, such as a
keyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, a
microphone, an Infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game
pad, a stylus pen, a touch screen, or a sensor. A sensor detects
conditions in its vicinity and transforms those detections into
physical expression compatible with the measurable phenomenon used
to represent information in computer system 700. Other external
devices coupled to bus 710, used primarily for interacting with
humans, include a display device 714, such as a cathode ray tube
(CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED)
display, an organic LED (OLED) display, a plasma screen, or a
printer for presenting text or images, and a pointing device 716,
such as a mouse, a trackball, cursor direction keys, or a motion
sensor, for controlling a position of a small cursor image
presented on the display 714 and issuing commands associated with
graphical elements presented on the display 714. In some
embodiments, for example, in embodiments in which the computer
system 700 performs all functions automatically without human
input, one or more of external input device 712, display device 714
and pointing device 716 is omitted.
[0082] In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware,
such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 720, is
coupled to bus 710. The special purpose hardware is configured to
perform operations not performed by processor 702 quickly enough
for special purposes. Examples of ASICs include graphics
accelerator cards for generating images for display 714,
cryptographic boards for encrypting and decrypting messages sent
over a network, speech recognition, and interfaces to special
external devices, such as robotic arms and medical scanning
equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence of
operations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware.
[0083] Computer system 700 also includes one or more instances of a
communications interface 770 coupled to bus 710. Communication
interface 770 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling
to a variety of external devices that operate with their own
processors, such as printers, scanners and external disks. In
general the coupling is with a network link 778 that is connected
to a local network 780 to which a variety of external devices with
their own processors are connected. For example, communication
interface 770 may be a parallel port or a serial port or a
universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. In some
embodiments, communications interface 770 is an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card
or a telephone modem that provides an information communication
connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. In some
embodiments, a communication interface 770 is a cable modem that
converts signals on bus 710 into signals for a communication
connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signals for a
communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As another
example, communications interface 770 may be a local area network
(LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a
compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also be
implemented. For wireless links, the communications interface 770
sends or receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic
or electromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals,
that carry information streams, such as digital data. For example,
in wireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell
phones, the communications interface 770 includes a radio band
electromagnetic transmitter and receiver called a radio
transceiver. In certain embodiments, the communications interface
770 enables connection to the communication network 105 for
providing a querying of one or more resources based on one or more
terms from an input within at least one search field to the UE
101.
[0084] The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to
any medium that participates in providing information to processor
702, including instructions for execution. Such a medium may take
many forms, including, but not limited to computer-readable storage
medium (e.g., non-volatile media, volatile media), and transmission
media. Non-transitory media, such as non-volatile media, include,
for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 708.
Volatile media include, for example, dynamic memory 704.
Transmission media include, for example, twisted pair cables,
coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, and carrier waves
that travel through space without wires or cables, such as acoustic
waves and electromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and
infrared waves. Signals include man-made transient variations in
amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization or other physical
properties transmitted through the transmission media. Common forms
of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a
flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium,
a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper
tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns
of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an
EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, any other memory
chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a
computer can read. The term computer-readable storage medium is
used herein to refer to any computer-readable medium except
transmission media.
[0085] Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or
both of processor instructions on a computer-readable storage media
and special purpose hardware, such as ASIC 720.
[0086] Network link 778 typically provides information
communication using transmission media through one or more networks
to other devices that use or process the information. For example,
network link 778 may provide a connection through local network 780
to a host computer 782 or to equipment 784 operated by an Internet
Service Provider (ISP). ISP equipment 784 in turn provides data
communication services through the public, world-wide
packet-switching communication network of networks now commonly
referred to as the Internet 790.
[0087] A computer called a server host 792 connected to the
Internet hosts a process that provides a service in response to
information received over the Internet. For example, server host
792 hosts a process that provides information representing video
data for presentation at display 714. It is contemplated that the
components of system 700 can be deployed in various configurations
within other computer systems, e.g., host 782 and server 792.
[0088] At least some embodiments of the invention are related to
the use of computer system 700 for implementing some or all of the
techniques described herein. According to one embodiment of the
invention, those techniques are performed by computer system 700 in
response to processor 702 executing one or more sequences of one or
more processor instructions contained in memory 704. Such
instructions, also called computer instructions, software and
program code, may be read into memory 704 from another
computer-readable medium such as storage device 708 or network link
778. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in memory
704 causes processor 702 to perform one or more of the method steps
described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware, such as
ASIC 720, may be used in place of or in combination with software
to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are
not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software,
unless otherwise explicitly stated herein.
[0089] The signals transmitted over network link 778 and other
networks through communications interface 770, carry information to
and from computer system 700. Computer system 700 can send and
receive information, including program code, through the networks
780, 790 among others, through network link 778 and communications
interface 770. In an example using the Internet 790, a server host
792 transmits program code for a particular application, requested
by a message sent from computer 700, through Internet 790, ISP
equipment 784, local network 780 and communications interface 770.
The received code may be executed by processor 702 as it is
received, or may be stored in memory 704 or in storage device 708
or any other non-volatile storage for later execution, or both. In
this manner, computer system 700 may obtain application program
code in the form of signals on a carrier wave.
[0090] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
carrying one or more sequence of instructions or data or both to
processor 702 for execution. For example, instructions and data may
initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer such
as host 782. The remote computer loads the instructions and data
into its dynamic memory and sends the instructions and data over a
telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the computer system
700 receives the instructions and data on a telephone line and uses
an infra-red transmitter to convert the instructions and data to a
signal on an infra-red carrier wave serving as the network link
778. An infrared detector serving as communications interface 770
receives the instructions and data carried in the infrared signal
and places information representing the instructions and data onto
bus 710. Bus 710 carries the information to memory 704 from which
processor 702 retrieves and executes the instructions using some of
the data sent with the instructions. The instructions and data
received in memory 704 may optionally be stored on storage device
708, either before or after execution by the processor 702.
[0091] FIG. 8 illustrates a chip set or chip 800 upon which an
embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Chip set 800 is
programmed to provide a querying of one or more resources based on
one or more terms from an input within at least one search field as
described herein and includes, for instance, the processor and
memory components described with respect to FIG. 7 incorporated in
one or more physical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a
physical package includes an arrangement of one or more materials,
components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a
baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physical
strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical
interaction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the
chip set 800 can be implemented in a single chip. It is further
contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set or chip 800
can be implemented as a single "system on a chip." It is further
contemplated that in certain embodiments a separate ASIC would not
be used, for example, and that all relevant functions as disclosed
herein would be performed by a processor or processors. Chip set or
chip 800, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing
one or more steps of providing user interface navigation
information associated with the availability of functions. Chip set
or chip 800, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for
performing one or more steps of providing a querying of one or more
resources based on one or more terms from an input within at least
one search field.
[0092] In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 800 includes a
communication mechanism such as a bus 801 for passing information
among the components of the chip set 800. A processor 803 has
connectivity to the bus 801 to execute instructions and process
information stored in, for example, a memory 805. The processor 803
may include one or more processing cores with each core configured
to perform independently. A multi-core processor enables
multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of a
multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers
of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor
803 may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem
via the bus 801 to enable independent execution of instructions,
pipelining, and multithreading. The processor 803 may also be
accompanied with one or more specialized components to perform
certain processing functions and tasks such as one or more digital
signal processors (DSP) 807, or one or more application-specific
integrated circuits (ASIC) 809. A DSP 807 typically is configured
to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time
independently of the processor 803. Similarly, an ASIC 809 can be
configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed
by a more general purpose processor. Other specialized components
to aid in performing the inventive functions described herein may
include one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), one or
more controllers, or one or more other special-purpose computer
chips.
[0093] In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 800 includes merely
one or more processors and some software and/or firmware supporting
and/or relating to and/or for the one or more processors.
[0094] The processor 803 and accompanying components have
connectivity to the memory 805 via the bus 801. The memory 805
includes both dynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable
optical disk, etc.) and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for
storing executable instructions that when executed perform the
inventive steps described herein to providing a querying of one or
more resources based on one or more terms from an input within at
least one search field. The memory 805 also stores the data
associated with or generated by the execution of the inventive
steps.
[0095] FIG. 9 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile
terminal (e.g., handset) for communications, which is capable of
operating in the system of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In
some embodiments, mobile terminal 901, or a portion thereof,
constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of providing a
querying of one or more resources based on one or more terms from
an input within at least one search field. Generally, a radio
receiver is often defined in terms of front-end and back-end
characteristics. The front-end of the receiver encompasses all of
the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the back-end encompasses
all of the base-band processing circuitry. As used in this
application, the term "circuitry" refers to both: (1) hardware-only
implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or
digital circuitry), and (2) to combinations of circuitry and
software (and/or firmware) (such as, if applicable to the
particular context, to a combination of processor(s), including
digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work
together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server,
to perform various functions). This definition of "circuitry"
applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in
any claims As a further example, as used in this application and if
applicable to the particular context, the term "circuitry" would
also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple
processors) and its (or their) accompanying software/or firmware.
The term "circuitry" would also cover if applicable to the
particular context, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or
applications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a
similar integrated circuit in a cellular network device or other
network devices.
[0096] Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a
Main Control Unit (MCU) 903, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 905,
and a receiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control
unit and a speaker gain control unit. A main display unit 907
provides a display to the user in support of various applications
and mobile terminal functions that perform or support the steps of
providing a querying of one or more resources based on one or more
terms from an input within at least one search field. The display
907 includes display circuitry configured to display at least a
portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile
telephone). Additionally, the display 907 and display circuitry are
configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of
the mobile terminal. An audio function circuitry 909 includes a
microphone 911 and microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech
signal output from the microphone 911. The amplified speech signal
output from the microphone 911 is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC)
913.
[0097] A radio section 915 amplifies power and converts frequency
in order to communicate with a base station, which is included in a
mobile communication system, via antenna 917. The power amplifier
(PA) 919 and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally
responsive to the MCU 903, with an output from the PA 919 coupled
to the duplexer 921 or circulator or antenna switch, as known in
the art. The PA 919 also couples to a battery interface and power
control unit 920.
[0098] In use, a user of mobile terminal 901 speaks into the
microphone 911 and his or her voice along with any detected
background noise is converted into an analog voltage. The analog
voltage is then converted into a digital signal through the Analog
to Digital Converter (ADC) 923. The control unit 903 routes the
digital signal into the DSP 905 for processing therein, such as
speech encoding, channel encoding, encrypting, and interleaving. In
one embodiment, the processed voice signals are encoded, by units
not separately shown, using a cellular transmission protocol such
as enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet
radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications
(GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal
mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other
suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term
Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA),
wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity
(WiFi), satellite, and the like, or any combination thereof.
[0099] The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 925 for
compensation of any frequency-dependent impairments that occur
during transmission though the air such as phase and amplitude
distortion. After equalizing the bit stream, the modulator 927
combines the signal with a RF signal generated in the RF interface
929. The modulator 927 generates a sine wave by way of frequency or
phase modulation. In order to prepare the signal for transmission,
an up-converter 931 combines the sine wave output from the
modulator 927 with another sine wave generated by a synthesizer 933
to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. The signal is
then sent through a PA 919 to increase the signal to an appropriate
power level. In practical systems, the PA 919 acts as a variable
gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP 905 from
information received from a network base station. The signal is
then filtered within the duplexer 921 and optionally sent to an
antenna coupler 935 to match impedances to provide maximum power
transfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna 917 to a
local base station. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied
to control the gain of the final stages of the receiver. The
signals may be forwarded from there to a remote telephone which may
be another cellular telephone, any other mobile phone or a
land-line connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN),
or other telephony networks.
[0100] Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal 901 are
received via antenna 917 and immediately amplified by a low noise
amplifier (LNA) 937. A down-converter 939 lowers the carrier
frequency while the demodulator 941 strips away the RF leaving only
a digital bit stream. The signal then goes through the equalizer
925 and is processed by the DSP 905. A Digital to Analog Converter
(DAC) 943 converts the signal and the resulting output is
transmitted to the user through the speaker 945, all under control
of a Main Control Unit (MCU) 903 which can be implemented as a
Central Processing Unit (CPU).
[0101] The MCU 903 receives various signals including input signals
from the keyboard 947. The keyboard 947 and/or the MCU 903 in
combination with other user input components (e.g., the microphone
911) comprise a user interface circuitry for managing user input.
The MCU 903 runs a user interface software to facilitate user
control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal 901 to
provide a querying of one or more resources based on one or more
terms from an input within at least one search field The MCU 903
also delivers a display command and a switch command to the display
907 and to the speech output switching controller, respectively.
Further, the MCU 903 exchanges information with the DSP 905 and can
access an optionally incorporated SIM card 949 and a memory 951. In
addition, the MCU 903 executes various control functions required
of the terminal. The DSP 905 may, depending upon the
implementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digital
processing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP 905
determines the background noise level of the local environment from
the signals detected by microphone 911 and sets the gain of
microphone 911 to a level selected to compensate for the natural
tendency of the user of the mobile terminal 901.
[0102] The CODEC 913 includes the ADC 923 and DAC 943. The memory
951 stores various data including call incoming tone data and is
capable of storing other data including music data received via,
e.g., the global Internet. The software module could reside in RAM
memory, flash memory, registers, or any other form of writable
storage medium known in the art. The memory device 951 may be, but
not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical
storage, magnetic disk storage, flash memory storage, or any other
non-volatile storage medium capable of storing digital data.
[0103] An optionally incorporated SIM card 949 carries, for
instance, important information, such as the cellular phone number,
the carrier supplying service, subscription details, and security
information. The SIM card 949 serves primarily to identify the
mobile terminal 901 on a radio network. The card 949 also contains
a memory for storing a personal telephone number registry, text
messages, and user specific mobile terminal settings.
[0104] While the invention has been described in connection with a
number of embodiments and implementations, the invention is not so
limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent
arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims.
Although features of the invention are expressed in certain
combinations among the claims, it is contemplated that these
features can be arranged in any combination and order.
* * * * *
References