Method and system for triggering a search request

Abstract

A method and system providing a response to an unrestricted request for information responsive to an unrestricted triggering condition. A request is associated with a condition which initiates an information search. A result associated with a request and a condition may be provided to a user via any or all communication services and/or devices associated with the user. A response may be delivered according to instructions from a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of obtaining information via a communication network comprising:
 receiving a request via the network;   routing, by a processor, information of the request to a human assistant based on a location specified by the request;   obtaining an observation by the human assistant of an activity at the location; and   providing a response to the request based on the observation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the request based on an event specified by a query of a user. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the human assistant based on chronological information associated with the human assistant and the location. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 delivering an instruction to the human assistant based on the request. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 procuring destinations based on actions of users; and 
 providing the response to the request to the destinations. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 distributing a notification of the request to human assistants; and 
 selecting the human assistant when the human assistant responds to the notification. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the observation based on a search resource. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the human assistant based on a ranking of human assistants associated with the location. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the human assistant based on an access right of the human assistant to observe the activity. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the human assistant based on a response of an automated resource associated with the request. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the human assistant based on proximity of the human assistant to the activity. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 directing the request to a human searcher; and 
 selecting the human assistant based on an action of the human searcher. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 providing a list of search resources to the human searcher; and 
 presenting a search resource selected by the human searcher to the human assistant. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for obtaining information via a network comprising:
 a server device receiving a request via the network, routing information of the request to a human assistant based on a location specified by the request, obtaining an observation by the human assistant of an activity at the location, and providing a response to the request based on the observation   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a user device submitting the request via the network; and 
 a human assistant device providing the observation via the network. 
 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing therein a program for causing a computer to execute an operation, comprising:
 receiving a request via a communications network;   routing information of the request to a human assistant based on a location specified by the request;   obtaining an observation by the human assistant of an activity at the location; and   providing a response to the request based on the observation.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 delivering access information for a resource to the human assistant via the network; and   selecting the resource based on a keyword of the request.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 obtaining information from a resource based on the request;   selecting the human assistant based on the information and a previous response submitted by the human assistant.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 determining the observation based on information obtained from an automated search system responsive to the request; and   providing information of the observation to the human assistant based on an occurrence of an event determined by the request.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 routing the request to the human assistant based on geographic information associated with the request and geographic information determined by a response of the human assistant to a previous request.