Abstract:
A system, method and apparatus for delivering Web content to a mobile telephone or related device by using a dialing code is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a user who dials a telephone number, or other dialing code, and subsequently receives content sent to the user&#39;s mobile handset. In another embodiment, content is Web content sent to the user&#39;s phone via a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) process. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/794,984 entitled “PHONE NUMBER INITIATED MOBILE SEARCH”, by Dennis Becker, filed Apr. 25, 2006. Priority of the filing date of Apr. 25, 2006 is hereby claimed, and the disclosure of the Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0002]    The present application is additionally related to commonly owned and assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/539,860 entitled “MULTI-MODAL SYSTEM FOR REQUESTING AND DELIVERING WEB CONTENT”, filed Oct. 9, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivery of content to mobile devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a system, methods and apparatus for delivery of Web content to a mobile electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Often times mobile device users seek instant and relevant information. For example, device users may seek information pertaining to venues ranging from restaurants to movie show times. Current information sources include directory assistance type services, local dial-in concierge services, newspaper and other print publications, and local billboard advertising, to name a few. With the explosive growth of data enabled mobile handsets, a unique opportunity exists to supply relevant information to these handsets. 
         [0005]    Currently, mobile handset users can access information (“mobile content”) on the Internet via a wireless data connection. A Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browser is the most commonly used interface for viewing mobile content. Due to the nature of most mobile handsets, many of which do not have a keyboard input, navigating and accessing mobile content is extremely cumbersome and subsequently rarely used. 
         [0006]    One category of mobile content that is creating demand to overcome the drawbacks of data-enabled handsets, is mobile search. Mobile search allows the mobile user to receive instant, relevant information relating to a “key word”. As described above, the limited input interface of a mobile device impairs the speed and usability of a mobile search. To address this problem, voice recognition technology is being developed in efforts to provide mobile search via spoken commands. The state of the art for voice recognition is plagued with speech pattern recognition shortfalls and disrupted voice recognition dialog from background noise. Currently, voice recognition falls short of providing a viable alternative to the push button interface of mobile handsets. 
         [0007]    Although present devices are somewhat functional, they are not sufficiently accurate or otherwise satisfactory. Therefore there exists a need for a system, and methods for improved search from mobile devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Exemplary embodiments that are depicted in the drawings are summarized below. These and other embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description of the Invention section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the embodiments described in this Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a system, apparatus and methods for overcoming some of the difficulties presented in the Background of the Invention. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of retrieving information on a portable electronic device is provided. The method involves transmitting a first signal to a network from a portable electronic device. In some embodiments this first signal may include a unique identifier that relates to a geographical location. A mobile search apparatus on the network receives the signal. An exemplary mobile search apparatus consistent with various embodiments may include a computer with a database containing geographically referenced categories of data. The computer may contain a network connection to transmit and receive signals to devices on the network. In one embodiment, the mobile search apparatus is configured to transmit a second signal to the portable electronic device. In this embodiment, the second signal may contain data content from the database. One feature of this embodiment is that it provides a method of searching for geographically relevant information from a mobile device. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a communication network is provided. Novel features of the communication network include, but are not limited to, a configuration of devices on the network that allows portable electronic devices to conduct searches for geographically relevant data. In this embodiment, a portable electronic device communicates with a mobile search apparatus on the network. The portable electronic device and the mobile search apparatus conduct the communication through the transmission and reception of various communication signals. For example, the portable electronic device may transmit a signal containing a unique identifier to the mobile search apparatus. The mobile search apparatus may receive the signal and respond with data from its database. In one embodiment, the mobile search apparatus may contain data content arranged by geographical region. The portable electronic device may receive the signal from the search apparatus and display the contents of the signal or in the case of voice data play the voice data on a speaker. In one embodiment, a user may select from the data provided by the search apparatus to receive additional information. In this case, further communication signals may be exchanged between the portable electronic device and the mobile search apparatus. 
         [0011]    In a still further embodiment, a mobile search apparatus is provided. The mobile search apparatus may include a processor, a network interface, and some form of storage media. In some embodiments, the mobile search apparatus may be a computer configured to provide search services to portable electronic devices on the network through an exchange of communication signals to and from the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various embodiments of the present invention taught herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of communication system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a process flow diagram representative of the operation of an exemplary embodiment of a provided method; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a process flow diagram representative of the operation of another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a process flow diagram representative of the operation of a further exemplary embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a mobile search apparatus; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a process flow diagram representative of operation of another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    It will be recognized that some or all of the Figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarily depict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown. The Figures are provided for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention with the explicit understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    In the following paragraphs, the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. While this invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. That is, throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. Descriptions of well known components, methods and/or processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the invention. As used herein, the “present invention” refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the “present invention” throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced feature(s). 
         [0021]    In a mobile society the demand for information can pose significant limitations on a user. Portable electronic devices have significant capabilities that may be useful in providing this information. One current limitation to accessing relevant information is limited in the sense that the information a user may deem relevant may be constrained to a geographical area. Further, the use of portable electronic devices to search the web through the use of web-browsers enabled with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). While WAP browsers are useful, structural limitations on portable devices may preclude or substantially limit a users ability to retrieve data. Additionally, the data once retrieved may not be relevant to the users geographical area. 
         [0022]    Provided embodiments address these issues, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a user  110  may interact with a handheld device  120 . The interaction between the user  110  and the handheld device  120  may occur via audio, visual, speech and/or touch information and/or commands. The portable electronic device  120  may be any of a variety of communication devices used to receive and transmit communication-related data via a network  130 . For example, portable electronic device  120  may be a cell phone, a PDA, a telephone, a computer, a laptop, a handheld communication device or other like device that receives and transmits data via a network. One of skill in the art will appreciate alternatives to the examples presented above that remain within both the scope and the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0023]    As illustrated, portable electronic device  120  may include a display  125  that is configured to display textual, graphical, and/or video content generated and/or received by portable electronic device  120 . For example, the display  125  may present a textual listing of categories, information related to one or more categories, and/or information without association to a category. Further, portable electronic device  120  may present, via audio signals, the same listing of categories, information related to one or more categories, and/or information without association to a category. A category, in the context of the present invention, is represented by a system or method of classification. In an exemplary embodiment the category may include geographically indexed or associated information. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a user  110  communicates with a mobile search apparatus  140  via network  130  and, in some embodiments, other apparatuses (not shown). The communication between user  110  and mobile search apparatus  140  may be initiated by methods known in the art including, but not by way of limitation, the dialing of a phone number or other dialing code associated with the apparatus  140 . One of skill in the art will appreciate alternative methods for initiating communication between the user  110  and the apparatus  140  while remaining within both the scope and the spirit of the present invention. Such alternative methods may include transmitting a Web site address or a text message. Further, as known in the art, the communication exchange may comprise transmitting and receiving various communication signals containing data, unique identifying information, geographical information, and commands. 
         [0025]    Mobile search apparatus  140  can provide information to the portable electronic device  120  in response to a command from the user  110  via the portable electronic device  120 . The information may be stored in a database or other data-store and organized in a predetermined manner prior to it being presented to the user  110 . The organization of the information may be performed by mobile search apparatus  140 , portable electronic device  120  or another apparatus (not shown) in communication with the mobile search apparatus  140  or the portable electronic device  120 . 
         [0026]    The predetermined manner in which the information is organized may include a categorical organization structure. For example, the information may be organized into categories 1-N. Each of the categories 1-N may be related to each other through a central theme (e.g., activities associated with a certain geographical area, commercial offerings associated with a specified industry, goods and services offered, location and contact information, price of goods or services etc.); however, one of skill in the art will recognize that the categories 1-N need not be related to each other through a central theme. 
         [0027]    Information may also be organized into sub-categories that provide organization of information pertaining to certain parent categories belonging to the group of categories 1-N. There may be any number of sub-categories that pertain to an individual parent category, and such a number of sub-categories does not necessarily have to be the same in value for each parent category. In one embodiment of a mobile search apparatus data stored in the groups may relate to companies that have purchased the right to be represented in the database. In another embodiment, the data may be sorted based on the amount paid by a company. One feature of this embodiment is that companies desiring their information to appear higher on a list may enter into financial relationships and pay more for the right to be listed first. 
         [0028]    By way of example,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment where mobile search apparatus  140  organizes the information before providing the organized information to the portable electronic device  120 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the information organized by the mobile search apparatus  140  need not be permanently stored by mobile search apparatus  140 , and may therefore be stored in memory directly or indirectly accessible by mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the categories and/or sub-categories are organized based on a payment structure. Such a payment structure could allow certain entities (e.g., commercial businesses, individuals, etc.) to pay for placement of their information in the list of categories and/or subcategories. Additionally, a payment structure may allow a company to insert advertising content to be delivered to a portable electronic device during the search process. One of skill in the art will recognize that the organization of the information may be formed using a variety of methods that may or may not include a payment structure. 
         [0030]    Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a process flow diagram representative of the operation of an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , flow begins in block  150  where a portable electronic device  120  transmits a first communication signal to a mobile search apparatus  140  on a network  130 . In one embodiment, the communication signal may comprise a unique identifier that may be related to a geographical location. It should be appreciated that this unique identifier may be a phone number conforming with a numbering plan similar to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). 
         [0031]    By way of example and not limitation, the NANP is an integrated telephone numbering plan adopted by 24 countries and territories. It consists of a three digit area code (also known as a numbering plan area code) and seven digits that direct the signal to a particular region on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In the NANP, the three digits following the numbering plan area code are known as the Exchange code. In many environments, the combination of area code and exchange code relate to a specific geographic region. As is known in the art, other dialing code systems exist and may be used to practice the provided embodiments. For example, there are alpha-numeric dialing codes that may contain non-numerical characters. These dialing codes may additionally relate to specific geographic locations. 
         [0032]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , mobile search apparatus  140  may receive the signal from portable electronics device  120  across network  130 . As is known in the art network  130  may comprise a variety network topologies and involve a number of communications technologies. As used herein network may comprise a wireless network, a wired network, a network wherein portions of the network are wireless and other portions wired. Some networks may include fiber optic communications media. Exemplary networks include but are not limited to wireless local area networks, local area networks, the public switched telephone network, cellular communications networks, wide area networks, the Internet, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VIOP) networks. Some embodiments of present invention are not therefore limited with respect to the particular network topology, configuration, or underlying technology. 
         [0033]    Mobile search apparatus  140  may then respond to portable electronics device  120  by transmitting a signal containing data in block  170 . In some embodiments, this data may comprise information about what the mobile search apparatus has available for a given geographic location. In other embodiments, this signal may comprise voice data intended to be played on portable electronic device  120 . In other embodiments this data may comprise a list formatted textually for display on portable electronic device  120 . In alternate embodiments, this data may comprise a list of available products and services in the geographical region. For example, a user may send a message to a specific unique identifier such as #555Restaurants. Upon receiving this message mobile search apparatus  140  may respond with a list of restaurants in the 555 area code. Flow continues to block  180  where portable electronic device  120  received the signal transmitted from mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0034]    One feature of this embodiment is that it allows a user  110  to interact with a mobile search apparatus  140  configured to provide information relevant to the geographical location of interest. In this embodiment, the user  110  may request a listing of information available from mobile search apparatus  140 , then based on this information may request specific information from the list. As is known in the art, the initiation of the request may take the form of recognition of the users voice or it may come from another input by the user on portable electronic device  120 . As stated above the information provided by mobile search apparatus  140  may be in the form of a voice signal or may be textually formatted. In one embodiment, the textually formatted data may be transmitted from the mobile search apparatus  140  in the form of a webpage. Further, in this first exchange of data, the data may include a list of categories (e.g., a short menu), information related to one or more categories, and/or information without association to a category. Additionally, the first content may be presented to the user  110  via a display  125  connected to portable electronics device  120  and/or via audio signals developed by the device  120  through an attached speaker. In an exemplary embodiment, the first content is delivered via a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browser; however, one of skill in the art will recognize alternative delivery methods that enable the user  110  to receive the first content 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary flow of communication in a provided embodiment. In this embodiment, like the above embodiment, flow begins at block  150  where a portable electronic device  120  transmits a first communication signal to a mobile search apparatus  140  on a network  130 . Like the above embodiment, the communication signal may comprise a unique identifier that is related to a geographical location. Similarly to the above embodiment, in block  160  mobile search apparatus  140  may receive the signal from portable electronics device  120  across network  130 . Flow continues to block  170  where Mobile search apparatus  140  may then respond to portable electronics device  120  by transmitting a signal containing data. As discussed above this data may be related to the categories of available information on mobile search apparatus  140  or may comprise specific requested information. In block  180  the portable electronic device  120  receives the signal from mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0036]    In one embodiment the signal received from mobile search apparatus is a voice message which lists the categories of available information. In this embodiment, the portable electronics device  120  may play the voice through an attached speaker in block  190 . Flow then continues to block  200  where a response signal is generated on the portable electronics device  120 . This response signal may comprise a voice recognized signal or may include formatted text. Additionally, the response signal may include a user  110 &#39;s selection of information from a list of categories. Flow then continues to block  210  where the portable electronic device  120  transmits a signal back to the mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0037]    A further embodiment of a network configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, like those listed above, flow begins at block  150  where a portable electronic device  120  transmits a first communication signal to a mobile search apparatus  140  on a network  130 . Like the above embodiment, the communication signal may comprise a unique identifier that is related to a geographical location. Similarly to the above embodiment, in block  160  mobile search apparatus  140  may receive the signal from portable electronics device  120  across network  130 . Flow continues to block  170  where Mobile search apparatus  140  may then respond to portable electronics device  120  by transmitting a signal containing data. As discussed above this data may be related to the categories of available information on mobile search apparatus  140  or may comprise specific requested information. In block  180  the portable electronic device  120  receives the signal from mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment the signal received from mobile search apparatus is a voice message which lists the categories of available information. In this embodiment, the portable electronics device  120  may play the voice through an attached speaker in block  190 . Flow then continues to block  200  where a response signal is generated on the portable electronics device  120 . This response signal may comprise a voice recognized signal or may include formatted text. Additionally, the response signal may include a user  110 &#39;s selection of information from a list of categories. Flow then continues to block  210  where the portable electronic device  120  transmits a signal back to the mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0039]    Flow the continues to block  220  where a fourth communication signal is transmitted from mobile search apparatus  140 . This signal may comprise data related to a specific inquiry by user  110 . For example, in some of the above embodiments, a first request is made from the portable electronic device  120  through the first transmitted signal. The mobile search apparatus  140  may respond with a list of available information in the form of a menu. A user  110  may decide to receive information on movie theaters in his/her geographical region. The next signal from mobile search apparatus  140  may include a list of theaters which is selectable. A user may select a theater and a further signal from mobile search apparatus may include show times. Similar to the above this signal may comprise a voice message or a textually formatted message. In block  240  the portable electronic device  120  may decide on the format, if it determined to be a voice message in block  240 , flow continues to block  250  where the voice is played on a speaker attached to portable electronic device  120 . If in block  260  it is determined that the signal contains textually formatted data flow continues to block  260  where the message is displayed on a display  125  attached to portable electronic device  120 . In like manner a portable electronic device  120  may make multiple requests for searches from mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a mobile search apparatus  140  consistent with various provided embodiments. As stated above, mobile search apparatus  140  may comprise a computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or other similar device capable of being configured to provide search services consistent with the above embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, mobile search apparatus  140  may comprise a network connection  270  configured to send and receive signals to and from network  130 . Mobile search apparatus  140  may additionally include a processor  280  and a storage medium. A number of processors  280  and storage media  290  are known in the art and may be used to practice the embodiments provided. Additionally, it is important to note that storage media  290  may be external to mobile search apparatus  140 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment storage media  290  may include machine executable instruction which configure mobile search apparatus  140  to provide the search services described in the above embodiments. Further, as described in connection with  FIG. 1 , storage media may contain s plurality of catagories of data which may be further broken down into sub-categories. As described above, the data may be stored in a database or other data store residing on storage media  290  or at another location external but connected to mobile search apparatus  140 . In some embodiments the categories may be kept on another device on network  130  and accessed by mobile search apparatus  140  when requested by portable electronic device  120 . In one embodiment, the data in the categories may be ordered for priority delivery to a portable electronic device based on a financial relationship. A company may choose to have their information provided to users  110  within a geographical area and pay for this service. Further, the content may be ordered by a financial priority allowing companies to pay to have their products and services listed first. 
         [0042]    In a further embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , advertising content may be interspersed with the desired signals. In this embodiment, flow begins in block  150  like previous embodiments. In block  150  a portable electronic device  120  transmits a first communication signal to a mobile search apparatus  140  on a network  130 . Flow then continues to block  310  where a the mobile search apparatus  140  transmits a signal containing advertising content before moving to block  320  where it transmits a signal containing the requested data. In this exemplary embodiment, the advertising content may or may not be related to the information requested by user  110 . Additionally, the advertising content is shown as the first transmission from mobile search apparatus. It may also be transmitted at any time during the exchange of communication signals between portable electronic device  120  and mobile search apparatus  140 . One of skill in the art will appreciated alternative embodiments where the first advertisement is not necessarily delivered before the delivery of the first content. The invention should not therefore be limited with respect to the content of the advertising nor the timing of transmission of advertising content. 
         [0043]    One feature of this embodiment is that it allows advertisers to reach users  110  who are inquiring about goods and services in a geographical location. This targeted advertising provides for a more efficient use of advertiser resources. 
         [0044]    Thus, it is seen that a system, method and apparatus for mobile search from portable electronics are provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the above-described embodiments, which are presented in this description for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. The specification and drawings are not intended to limit the exclusionary scope of this patent document. It is noted that various equivalents for the particular embodiments discussed in this description may practice the invention as well. That is, while the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims. The fact that a product, process or method exhibits differences from one or more of the above-described exemplary embodiments does not mean that the product or process is outside the scope (literal scope and/or other legally-recognized scope) of the following claims.