Dynamic Menus for Multi-Prefix Interactive Searches Using Predictive Text to Yield Targeted Advertisements

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 (including predictive text techniques to facilitate the generation of targeted ads) 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 computing 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 multi-tier predictive search system, embodied in a computer-accessible storage medium, that searches a database of content items across a plurality of channels, each channel representing a category of content items within the database, the system comprising:
 (a) a multi-prefix search module, embodied in a computer-accessible storage medium, that receives keystrokes as they are entered by a user into a device, generates suggested query terms, and searches for items within the database that contain words matching the keystrokes and suggested query terms;   (b) a multi-tier search module, embodied in a computer-accessible storage medium, that limits a first search, including a first set of keystrokes, to a first tier of content that contains names of channels in the database, and, upon receiving an indication of the user's selection of the name of a first channel resulting from the first search, limits a second search, including a second set of keystrokes, to a second tier of content that contains items within the category represented by the name of the first channel; and   (c) a search result delivery module, embodied in a computer-accessible storage medium, that delivers the matching items and a plurality of B-Menu entries comprising location data generated by the multi-prefix search module to the device for display to the user in a mapping application.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-prefix search module searches for items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching the keystrokes, wherein:
 (a) each sequence of keystrokes separated by a prefix delimiter represents a distinct prefix to be matched to the beginning portion of words within the items; and   (b) each item containing at least one word matching each distinct prefix is considered a matching item.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein GPS data is employed to facilitate generation of suggested query terms and identification of matching items having a location within a predetermined proximity to the device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-prefix search module identifies targeted ads related to the matching items, and the search result delivery module delivers the targeted ads to the device for display to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein GPS data is employed to facilitate selection of targeted ads having a location within a predetermined proximity to the device. 
     
     
         6 . A method for conducting an interactive multi-tier search of a database of content items across a plurality of channels, each channel representing a category of content items within the database, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving keystrokes as they are entered by a user into a device, generating suggested query terms, and searching for items within the database that contain words matching the keystrokes and suggested query terms;   (b) limiting a first search, with respect to a first set of keystrokes of the user's search, to a first tier of content that contains names of channels in the database, and, upon receiving an indication of the user's selection of a first channel resulting from the first search, limiting a second search, with respect to a second set of keystrokes, to a second tier of content that contains items within the first channel; and   (c) delivering the matching items and a plurality of B-Menu entries comprising location data to the device for display to the user in an interactive mapping application.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of searching for items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching the keystrokes, wherein:
 (a) each sequence of keystrokes separated by a prefix delimiter represents a distinct prefix to be matched to the beginning portion of words within the items; and   (b) each item containing at least one word matching each distinct prefix is considered a matching item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein GPS data is employed to facilitate generation of suggested query terms and identification of matching items having a location within a predetermined proximity to the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of identifying targeted ads related to the matching items, and delivering the targeted ads to the device for display to the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein GPS data is employed to facilitate selection of targeted ads having a location within a predetermined proximity to the device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for conducting an interactive multi-tier search of a database of content items across at least one of a plurality of channels, each channel representing a category of content items within the database, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a user selection of at least one of a plurality of search channels, wherein the user's search is limited to the at least one of the plurality of search channels;   (c) receiving individual keystrokes as they are entered by the user into a mobile device, and in response to each individual keystroke conducting a prefix search for matching items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching a cumulative total of the individual keystrokes; and   (e) delivering the matching item list and a plurality of B-Menu entries comprising location data to the mobile device for display to the user in a graphical user interface including a map.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a telephone contact information in the matching item list immediately useable by the mobile device, with at least one selectable link associated with the telephone contact information being displayed to the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving GPS data about a location from the mobile device, the GPS data comprising a geographic location entered into the mobile device by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a price information in the matching item list immediately useable by the mobile device, with at least one selectable link associated with the price information being displayed to the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a purchasing information in the matching item list, with at least one selectable link associated with the purchasing information being displayed to the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a scheduling information in the matching item list, with at least one selectable link associated with the scheduling information being displayed to the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a popularity ranking, wherein at least a portion of the matching items in the matching item list are sorted based on a popularity ranking of the matching items. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a positional ranking, wherein at least a portion of the matching items in the matching item list are sorted based on a positional ranking of the matching items. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the matching items in the matching item list are sorted based on data in a viewing history of the user's mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving GPS data about a location from the mobile device, the GPS data comprising a current geographic location of the mobile device; wherein at least one of the plurality of B-Menu entries identifies a matching item in the matching item list which comprises a location information in the matching item list immediately useable by the mobile device, with at least one selectable link associated with the location information being displayed to the user of the mobile device.