Abstract:
A system and method that enables users to expeditiously search for specific items features: 1) the geographic location of the user or the geographic area in which the user is searching; 2) the specific type of item desired; and 3) the ranking of the quality of the item based upon other user&#39;s ranking. The method is based on a three step process involving: 1) the user typing the desired item to be searched from a web based or mobile device which detects the user&#39;s location or geographic area being searched; 2) a list of similar items being populated for that geographic area in sequential order based on user preferences and the popularity of other users and paid advertisement by entities and individuals; and 3) upon clicking on the selected item the user can then obtain directions or obtain the contact information of the entities selling the selected item.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to system and method for web based and mobile communications devices to expeditiously search for specific types of items based on peer ranking of quality. Specifically, an improved system and method for providing rapid and reliable searches for specific types of items based upon user ranking through Internet connected personal computers and wireless (mobile) communication devices is disclosed. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Current Internet protocol search engines and ranking services applications are limited in their ability to find a specific type of item based on the user&#39;s search terms and preferences. Specifically, several web based and mobile applications search engines currently exist that allow users to type in a specific search term (phrase, word) and compile lists based on the most common use of the typed phase or word. The general purpose of these lists is to provide users with choices where to buy, how to use, or the background of the searched item. Similarly there are existing web based and mobile application ranking services where a user can search for a specific product or service that ranks the entities selling the product or service based on various parameters relating to the overall experience of other users such as: 1) service; 2) pricing; 3) ambiance; and 4) popularity of the product or service being searched. 
         [0003]    None of the current search engines or ranking services are focused solely on the ranking in popularity and quality of a specific item being searched based upon the opinions of other users. For example, if a user were looking for a specific food dish to eat and used any of the current search engines in the market place, the search would result in a list which would likely include recipes about how to make that food item, the origin of that food, and articles and links to a magazine or reviewers opinions on the best place to purchase that food dish in a particular city. Likewise, if a user typed that food dish into one of the existing ranking services, the search would result in a list of Entities selling that food item based on the overall user experience where the popularity and quality of the specific food dish is only one of the factors in the resulting overall Entity ranking. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one preferred embodiment, a system is accessed either through a web portal or a mobile application downloaded to and accessed through the user&#39;s mobile device. After gaining access from one of these two interfaces, the user can search for an item based on the user&#39;s current location or geographic area being searched, previous user preferences and the popularity ranking of the item by other users. Once users visit the entity and purchase the desired item, users can then decide whether they like the item and provide input (rank the item) using the mobile application or web portal through an electronic device. 
         [0005]    According to another embodiment, in order to search for a specific Item, the user accesses the system through either the system&#39;s web portal or the application (app) downloaded to the user&#39;s mobile device. The user&#39;s location is immediately detected based upon the assisted global positioning system (aGPS) location of the mobile device upon opening the app or the internet protocol (IP) address of personal computer accessing the web portal. The user is then connected to the server and can enter or type in the desired item into the search field and confirm if the search is to be based on the user&#39;s current location or another geographic location. After searching, a list is displayed showing pictures from different entities selling the item in descending order based on popularity ranking by other users. The user then selects an item from the list by clicking on the picture of that item and is subsequently provided with the name of the entity selling that item. The user then can select to either get directions or obtain contact related information (address, phone, email, and website) of the selected Entity. 
         [0006]    According to yet another embodiment for ranking of the Item, once the user purchased the desired item from the selling entity, the user can then opt to like the item by clicking a like button or a selection under the featured item. If the user did not like the item, the user can abstain from clicking the like selection. The number of users clicking like for that item will determine the overall ranking of that item in that geographic area. The more likes by individual users, the higher the ranking of that specific item when searched by other users. In one embodiment, a single user can only like the specific item once within the same category, and specific entity. In one embodiment, user does not provide negative reviews or commentary inhibiting abuse, fraud and unfair competition. The ranking may be based on the popularity of the item as interpreted by the user community regardless of other aspects of the entity (ambiance, location, pricing, service, etc.). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a system entity and flow diagram that presents data flow in one embodiment of a system for searching for specific types of items based on peer ranking of quality; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic representation of the components of one or more of the portable or stationary user devices according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic representation of the components of one or more server devices according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic representation of exemplary database tables used in a database for the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating the steps performed by system software of  FIGS. 1-4  for searching and accessing information from the system through a web portal interface; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed by system software for accessing the server through a personal computer (PC) according to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram showing the users&#39; view of the services pages through the steps of searching and selecting the desired item according to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed by system software for accessing the server through a mobile device app through various operating system platforms according to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed by system software for searching and accessing information from the system through a mobile device according to the embodiments of  FIG. 1-8 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is an illustrative diagram showing the users&#39; view of screen shots of pages through the steps of searching and selecting desired item. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0019]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a system and method for web based and mobile communications devices to expeditiously search for specific types of items based on peer ranking of quality. 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary internet-based system is shown in which the system and method may operate according to one embodiment. As is typical on today&#39;s internet  30 , users  10  may connect to and use the internet  30  over several platforms. Those platforms may include personal computers  60 , mobile phones or tablets  80 , or the like. One of the latest ways to connect to the internet includes using internet protocol television, or IPTV, boxes  92 . These IPTV boxes  92  include a wireless or wired device that has a memory and storage for applications or apps that connects to the internet  30 . Through an IPTV box  92 , users may use the apps contained therein to display videos, pictures, and internet sites on a television (TV)  90 . The television is typically connected to the IPTV box  92  via an HDMI cord, component cable, or audio/video (A/V) input lines. 
         [0021]    Over and above the mobile phones and tablets  80 , computers  60 , and the like, discussed above, other popular devices, such as modern game consoles  70 , are now capable of video play. Game consoles  70  such as the XBOX®, Playstation®, Nintendo®, Wii®, and others, provide for internet video presentation. Just as with the IPTV box  92 , game consoles  70  typically connect to a TV  90  on which videos may be viewed and games played. 
         [0022]    One or more servers  40  may include one or more storage devices  48  containing one or more databases  250 . 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a diagrammatic representation of the internal components of one or more of the user devices  80  ( 92 ,  70 ,  60  in  FIG. 1 ) is shown. As those skilled in the art would recognize, each user device  80 ,  92 ,  70 ,  80  may include a processor  50  and operating system  52 , on which executable instructions of a browser app  63  may execute. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the browser app  63 . Further, the user devices  60 ,  92 ,  70 ,  80  may each have a random access memory (RAM)  58  that may be used for running browser app  63 , loading programs, and storing program variable data. Further, mobile devices  80 , such as smart phones and tablets, and even mobile computers  60 , may include a geographic positioning system (GPS)  61 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a diagrammatic representation of the internal components of the server device  40  of  FIG. 1  is shown. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the server device  40  may include a processor  42  and server operating system  44 , on which executable instructions of server software  202  may execute. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the computer program, which may embody server software  202 , may be loaded by an operating system  44  for running on the server  40 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a diagrammatic representation of the one or more servers  40 , and a storage device  48 , is shown. As indicated above, the server  40  may have executing within it server software  202 . The server software  202  may comprise instructions to run online search and display software accessed by users  10 . The storage device  48  may store one or more databases to store food and ingredient rating data. An exemplary database table  250  is shown in  FIG. 4  illustrating some of the electronic data that may be stored and transformed to manage food and ingredient rating data. For example, each record  252  of table  250  may contain the food and ingredient data. Each record  252  may contain a field for food item identifier (ID), a field for number of likes for that food item, and a description field. 
         [0026]    Another table  260  may contain food and ingredient location data. For example, records  262  in table  260  may contain the item ID, the location of the store for the item ID, wherein each item ID may have multiple records  262  wherein different stores may have the item, and fields for more granular location data for once the user  10  is in the store, such as isle and shelf location for the item. Further, in one embodiment, a GPS location field may include GPS latitude and longitude data for the store and item. 
       Accessing and Using the System from a PC and System Website 
       [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , a personal computer  60  could be a traditional PC or laptop running off of Linux, Windows or iOS platforms, herein referred to as PC. In step  100 , access to the server  40  may be gained through either wireless or hard-wired communication to the internet  30  by typing the web address of the systems website produced by server software  202 . Upon singing in as unique user  10  or as a guest user  10 , the user  10  may be connected through internet  30  protocols to the system server  40 . The server  40  communicates back to the user&#39;s PC  60  and determines the user&#39;s geographic location based on the internet protocol (“IP”) address in which the PC  60  is connected to the internet  30  through wireless or hardwire modem. Alternatively, the user  10  may type in a separate geographic area, outside of the PC address in which the user wishes to search for an item. The location information is transmitted back to the server  40 . 
         [0028]    In step  110 , therein, the user  10  may type the specific item the user is looking for either in their immediate geographic area or another area in which the user desires to search for a specific item. Once typed in step  110  the name of the item may be transmitted back to system server  30  wherein the system software  202  may search for that item within the database  250  within a default range of 0.3 miles (4.83 kilometers) of the user&#39;s geographic location or the area being searched, where the range of the search can be expanded or contracted based on the user&#39;s desire to limit or expand the entities to be searched for that item. In step  150 , the system software  202  may then analyze that information against the database  250 , prioritizes and formats that data information based upon other user&#39;s previous ranking by likes, and populates a list in descending value listing the highest ranked item at the top. Therein, the system software  202  transmits the populated list  120  to the user&#39;s PC  60  displaying the searched item list with pictures of that item in step  130  (“screen 1”). The user can then scroll through the list of that item and then select by clicking (step  131 ) on the item from the business the user chooses. The html portion of the system software  202  on the PC may then transmit a page of the entity back to the user displaying the item searched by the user as well as similar top ranked items sold at that entity in step  140 . The user can then either click to obtain directions in step  141  to the entity from the user&#39;s current location, or click to obtain contact information in step  142  for that entity (telephone, email, and/or address). 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating in greater detail the flow of information between the user&#39;s PC  60  and the system server  40 , including the initial splash page based on the determination of the user&#39;s location or the geographic region being searched. In step  200 , the user&#39;s PC may access the server system  40  web portal through the internet  30 . Upon accessing the sever system  40  web portal, in step  210 , the system server software  202  may identify the user location through the PC&#39;s IP address from where it is being used or (from step  215 ), the typed in geographic location to be searched (through either a typed in zip code or name of city). In step  220 , the server software  202  may then send the user  10  a splash page on the system website that lists suggested popular items in the user&#39;s geographic area or the area being searched. In step  225 , upon the user typing in an item to be search, in step  230 , the server software  202  reads the database  252  to compile a list that is then sent to the user&#39;s PC and displays that list of the specific searched items, including a picture of the items, from various entities for the geographic area being searched in descending order based on the ranking by other users. In step  235 , after reviewing the list of items, the user  10  may then click on the desired item to select an entity (step  236 ), after which, in step  237 , the system software  202  may direct the user  10  to the entity page with the selected/searched item. Also, in step  240 , the system software  202  may cause other popular items, as determined by other users  10 , that available at that entity to be concurrently displayed. In step  241 , the user can then click to select the contact information of that entity (telephone, email and address). In step  242 , the system software  202 , the system software  202  may provide the business location, and in step  245 , obtain directions and mapping to the entity location through the integrated global positioning system (“GPS”) mapping program (Google Maps or similar program in step  246 ). 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an illustrative diagram showing the user&#39;s view of the system pages through the steps of searching and selecting the desired item. 
       Accessing and Using the System Through a Software Application (“App”) Downloaded to the User&#39;s Mobile Device 
       [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram illustrates the steps performed by system software  202  to provide access to the server software  202  using mobile device  80 . A mobile device  80  can be a tablet, smart phone or similar device capable of searching the worldwide web  30  via cellular or local area wireless internet (“WiFi”) connection. In order for the user  10  to access the system software  202 , in embodiments that use more than just html access, in step  400  the user  10  may first download a portion of the system software  202  comprising a mobile application or app from an application store (e.g. Apple Store®, iTunes®, Google Play®, Amazon Appstore®, etc.). In step  401 , upon locating the system software App, the user may then download the app portion of the system software  202  through wireless internet connection to their mobile device. Once the App is downloaded, the user  10  may then access the server software, which then detects the user&#39;s mobile device location through its aGPS location (cell tower triangulation and global satellite positioning). The aGPS system ( 61  in  FIG. 2 ) is normally imbedded at the semiconductor (chip) level for most mobile devices  80 . The app portion of the system software  202  may integrate with the aGPS location to facilitate accurate searching of items within a specific geographic area. In step  410 , the user  10  may type the desired item to be searched through the app portion of the software  202 . In step  420 , the system software  202  may then search the database  250  for the same item within the user&#39;s location within default range of 0.3 miles (4.83 kilometers) of the user&#39;s geographic location or the area being searched, where the range of the search can be expanded or contracted based on the user&#39;s desire to limit or expand the entities to be searched for that item. In step  420 , the system software  202  may then analyze that information against the database  250 , prioritize and format found data based upon other user&#39;s previous ranking by likes, and populate a list in descending value with the highest ranked item at the top. In step  425 , the system software  202  may transmit the populated list to the user&#39;s mobile device  80 , and in step  430 , the app portion of the software  202  may display the searched item list with pictures of that item (page 1). In step  435 , the user can then scroll through the list of that item and then select by clicking on the item from the entity the user  10  chooses. In step  440 , the system software  202  may then transmit a page of the entity back to the user  10  displaying the item searched by the user as well as similar top ranked items sold at that entity. The user can then either click to obtain directions in step  441  to the entity from the user&#39;s current location; or click to obtain contact information in step  442  for that entity (telephone, email, and/or address). Additionally, because the app portion of the system software  202  is on a mobile device, the user  10  can click directly on the telephone number or email address of the entity to communicate directly with the business with an additional click. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating in greater detail the flow, analysis and transfer of information and data between the user&#39;s mobile device and the server  40 , including the initial splash page based on the determination of the user&#39;s location or the geographic region being searched. In step  500 , the user  10  accesses the system&#39;s app portion of the system software  202  through a software apps store. Therein, the app portion of the system software  202  may then be downloaded to the user&#39;s mobile device  80 . In step  510 , once the user  10  launches the app portion of the system software  202  from their mobile device  80 , the user&#39;s device location is detected through aGPS by the services server. In step  515 , based on the user&#39;s device  80  location, a splash page is transmitted by the system software  202  to the mobile device displaying the current items being searched in the user&#39;s immediate geographic area. In step  520 , the user then types the item desired to be searched, which upon clicking, transmits the search term to the system server  40 . In step  525 , using a proprietary algorithm the system searches the existing server database for the same item within the user&#39;s location or the area being searched and formats that data information based upon other user&#39;s previous ranking by likes and populates a list in descending value listing the highest ranked item at the top. In step  530 , the system software transmits the populated list to the user&#39;s mobile device  80  displaying the searched item list with pictures of that item (Screen 1). In step  535 , the user  10  may scroll through the list and selects that item at the desired entity location by clicking. In step  536 , the system software  202  may then transmit a page of the entity back to the user for displaying the item searched by the user as well as similar top ranked items sold at that entity in step  540 . In step  541 , the user can then either click to display the address, step  550 , and directions to the entity, step  552 , from the user&#39;s current location, step  554 ; or in step  542 , click to obtain contact information for that entity, step  544  (telephone, email, and/or address). In step  546 , the user can then click to call the entity (to order or place a reservation). 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is an illustrative diagram showing the users&#39; view of the services pages through the steps of searching and selecting desired item. 
         [0034]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.