Automatic location-specific content selection for portable information retrieval devices

Abstract

A method for anticipating a user's desired information using a PDA device connected to a computer network is provided. This method further comprises maintaining a database of user tendencies within the computer network, receiving sensor data from the user's physical environment via the PDA device, generating query strings using both tendency data and sensor data, retrieving data from external data sources using these generated query strings, organizing the retrieved data info electronic folders, and delivering this organized data to the user via the PDA device. In particular, a data management module anticipates the type of information a user desires by combining real time data taken from a sensor unit within a PDA and data regarding the history of that particular user's tendencies stored within the data management module.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for anticipating a user's desired information using a portable information retrieval device (IRD), comprising: 
 receiving real-time data via a computer network from a portable IRD connected wirelessly thereto, wherein the real-time data originates from a location sensor in communication with the portable IRD and indicates a present location of the portable IRD;    automatically generating a query for search result data relevant to the present location indicated by the real-time data;    retrieving the search result data from an external data source by directing the query to the external data source via the computer network;    selecting results from the search result data to prepare selected location-related data; and    transmitting the selected location-related data to the portable IRD via the computer network.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the generating step further comprises automatically generating the query for data relevant both to the present location and to user interests associated with a registered user of the portable IRD.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising maintaining user information indicating the user interests of the registered user.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising processing the search result data using a weighting algorithm to determine relevancy of particular search results to the user interests.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising processing the search result data to determine relevancy of particular search results to the present location  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the real-time data comprising data from a GPS device connected to the portable IRD.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherin the generating step further comprises building the query from predefined query strings stored in a database  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising organizing the selected location-related data into categories, prior to transmitting the selected location-related data to the portable IRD.  
   
   
       31 . A method for anticipating a user's desired information using a portable information retrieval device (IRD), comprising: 
 receiving present location data at a IRD connected wirelessly to a computer network from a location sensor, the present location data indicating a present location of the IRD;    transmitting the present location data from the IRD to a remote data management module configured for automatically generating a query for results relevant to the present location data;    receiving location-related search results from the remote data management module in response to transmitting the present location data; and    outputting the location-related search results using an output device operatively associated with the IRD.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising providing information to the data management module configured for use in selecting the location-related search results from results returned by the query.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein information provided to the data management module configured for use in selecting the location-related search results comprises information identifying user interests associated with a registered user of the IRD.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the present location data from a GPS device connected to the IRD.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein outputting the selected location-related data further comprises displaying the location-related search results on a display screen to the IRD.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein outputting the selected location-related data further comprises outputting the location-related search results as audible output.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein outputting the selected location-related data further comprises outputting the location-related search results organized into categories.  
   
   
       38 . A computer-readable media encoded with instructions for anticipating a user's desired information using a portable computing device, comprising encoded instructions for: 
 receiving sensor data via a computer network from a portable computing device connected wirelessly thereto, wherein the sensor data originates from a location sensor in communication with the portable computing device and indicates a sensed location of the portable computing device;    originating a search query relevant to the sensed location indicated by the real-time data;    retrieving results from the search query;    selecting a portion of the results to prepare processed location-related data; and    providing the processed location-related data to the portable computing device via the computer network.    
   
   
       39 . The computer-readable media of  claim 38 , further comprising instruction for originating the query for data relevant both to the sensed location and to user interests associated with the portable computing device.  
   
   
       40 . The computer-readable media of  claim 39 , further comprising instructions for determining user information indicating the user interests.  
   
   
       41 . The computer-readable media of  claim 40 , further comprising instructions for ranking the results using a weighting algorithm to order relevancy of particular search results to the user interests.  
   
   
       42 . The computer-readable media of  claim 41 , further comprising instructions for processing the results to order relevancy of particular search results to the sensed location.  
   
   
       43 . The computer-readable media of  claim 38 , further comprising instructions for receiving the sensor data comprising data from a GPS locator connected to the portable computing device.  
   
   
       44 . The computer-readable media of  claim 38 , further comprising instructions for assembling the query from predefined query strings.  
   
   
       45 . The computer-readable media of  claim 38 , further comprising instructions for classifying the selected location-related data into categories, prior to transmitting the processed location-related data to the portable computing device.  
   
   
       46 . A computer-readable media encoded with instructions for anticipating a user's desired information using a handheld computing device, comprising instructions configured for: 
 obtaining sensed location data using a handheld computing device connected to a location sensor, the sensed location data indicating a present location of the handheld computing device;    transmitting the sensed location data from the handheld computing device to a remote server via a wireless connection with a request for initiating a query relevant to the present location data;    receiving location-related search results from the remote server in response to transmitting the sensed location data; and    outputting the location-related search results using an output device operatively associated with the handheld computing device.    
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable media of  claim 46 , further comprising instructions for providing information to the data management module configured for use in selecting the location-related search results from results returned by the query.  
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable media of  claim 47 , further comprising instructions for providing the information to the data management module as information identifying user interests associated with a registered user of the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       49 . The computer-readable media of  claim 46 , further comprising instructions for obtaining the present location data from a GPS locator in communication with the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       50 . The computer-readable media of  claim 46 , further comprising instructions for outputting the location-related search results further to a display screen of the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable media of  claim 46 , further comprising instructions for outputting the location-related search results as audible output from the handheld computing device.  
   
   
       52 . The computer-readable media of  claim 46 , further comprising instructions for outputting the location-related search results classified into categories.