Patent ID: 7941430

Claim:
A method of preparing a response when providing e-Directory services to a user making a user request for location-based supplier information, said method comprising: receiving, in an apparatus, a user request for location-based supplier information; identifying, through use of automatic location detection in a mobile communications device, a desired location for which the user is requesting supplier information; identifying from the user request at least one informational element useful in querying an e-directory of suppliers; causing the apparatus to query, responsive to the user request, a primary e-directory of suppliers using said desired location and said informational element, in order to generate primary supplier hits; causing the apparatus to query, responsive to the user request, a world wide web (www) using said desired location and said informational element, in order to generate supplier web page hits; causing the apparatus to merge said primary supplier hits with said supplier web page hits to create a list of suppliers including a plurality of facts respecting each supplier in said list; causing the apparatus to sort the list of suppliers based on proximity to the desired location; causing the apparatus to purge any duplicate supplier hits; causing the apparatus to format said list of suppliers to remove any facts extraneous to presentation over a viewing device to said user; and causing the apparatus to deliver the list of suppliers to the viewing device.