Patent ID: 7873654

Claim:
A natural language query system for processing and analyzing voice and proximity-based queries, comprising: a device, comprising: a speech input module for receiving a voice-based query in natural language form from a user; and a location/proximity module for receiving location/proximity information from a location/proximity device; one or more servers connected to the device, wherein the one or more servers comprise: a speech conversion module for converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form; a natural language processing module for converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form using lexicons and grammar rules to parse sentences and determine underlying meanings of the voice-base query; a semantic engine module for converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query; and a database-look-up module for using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database, wherein the location/proximity module is configured to provide a context and environment to the database-look-up module for narrowing and streamlining the formal database query associated with the voice-based query, and wherein the narrowing and streamlining is responsive to the location/proximity information.