Dynamic Menus for Multi-Prefix Interactive Mobile Searches

Abstract

The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth.

1 . An interactive information retrieval system, including non-transitory computer-accessible storage media, that searches a database of content items, the system comprising:
 a. a multi-prefix search module, embodied in a first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that receives keystrokes as they are entered by a user into a mobile device, searches for content items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching the keystrokes, and generates a first-tier set of search results containing matching content items;   b. a first-tier search result delivery module, embodied in the first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that delivers the first-tier set of search results to the mobile device;   c. a client application, embodied in a second non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium on the mobile device that sorts at least a portion of the first-tier set of search results utilizing a data set from the mobile device and displays the sorted portion of the first-tier set of search results to the user of the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a predefined channel of content items. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a user-defined location. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a location obtained from a GPS module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises one or more results of a prior search by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a time of day obtained from the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a telephone number stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises an email address stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a text message address stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises an image stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the data set comprises a data set accessible by the mobile device from a website. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sorted portion of the first-tier set of search results is associated with a dynamic menu item. 
     
     
         13 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein when the dynamic menu item can be activated in a first manner by the user using a first gesture or in a second manner by the user using a second gesture, the first and second gestures being different gestures. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 13 , wherein the first manner of activation comprises pressing a touchscreen of the mobile device proximate to the dynamic menu item for a first length of time. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 14 , wherein the second manner of activation comprises pressing the touchscreen of the mobile device proximate to the dynamic menu item for a second length of time, the second length of time being longer than the first length of time. 
     
     
         16 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 14 , wherein the first manner of activation selects the dynamic menu item. 
     
     
         17 . The interactive information retrieval system of  claim 15 , wherein the second manner of activation actuates the dynamic menu item.