AU2002100062A4 - Computer desktop browser containing local business directory - Google Patents

Description

Australia Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Innovation Patent Computer Desktop Browser Containing Local Business Directory The following statement is a full description of this innovation, Including the best method of performing it known to me; Computer Desktop Browser Containing Local Businesses Directory This Invention relates to improvements in the way Internet search engines Locate businesses, Companies or services local to the search initiator. Many people find existing Internet search engines frustrating to use as they Find it to hard to localize the search. For the majority of people a local Supplier of goods or services is adequate and a search result from A foreign country does not satisfy the search requirement. For example a Search described a" Car Purchase Gold Coast" delivered results for Railroad museums, Dog talkback domain, Squaw Valley music bowl IPA pollution domain to name but a few.

These problems are overcome by the present invention, Which provides a search engine on the desktop of the computer accessing a three-dimensional Representation on a city using building types or icons to house the business or service and initiating the search on a local first basis. In one form of the invention the desktop is laid out as a cyber city with realistic graphics to represent the buildings. The boating industry is located in the marina and the car sales in the service station. In another form of the invention Industry type" icons may be used, A sawtooth building to represent manufacturing companies or a swimmer to represent the aquatic center.

The desktop can use any graphic to house or list the product or service. Each icon or building representing a service or product group.

all banks financial institutions in the bank finance building and all the utilities water, electricity etc in the utilities building.

Once the icon has been selected a list of local service and product providers in that industry group will be displayed, then by clicking on the preferred supplier a link to their site or information about the specific supplier is displayed If the service is not available locally, then the invention moves the search to the next local city to continue the search. First by postcode then by telephone area code, then state then country and only if the product or service is unavailable through the local network does the request go to the World Wide Web.

A Further Benefit of the invention is that by clicking on the icons to refine the search the keywords in the search string are placed in their correct form and order making the intemrnet search more accurate.

So the browser can: Move the cursor through Dimensions in a spacial search for the required office or shop.

Search the hard drive for files related to an action requested.

Update the users desktop to maintain accurate databases.

Read HTML Guide the user through the search.

Send and receive e-mails.

The management software Controls the updating of the browser information.

Controls the billing provides an approved payment method.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one example of the invention.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 shows one example of the desktop for the invention.

Figure 2 shows the industry group associated with each icon in this example of the invention.

Figures 3,4,5,6 show how each building or icon is identified when the cursor arrow passes over it.

Figure 7 shows the auto service station and the choices the search Initiator can make.

Figure 8 shows the result of selecting the menu button from figure 7.

Figure 9 shows the results from selecting the sports classic button in figure 8.

Figure 10 shows an example of the foyer in the "white collar" buildings, Those buildings housing the professions etc. An interactive tenant directory and tenant services on the reception desk.

Fig 11 is a representation of a typical legal insurance building tenant directory.

Figure 12 is a representation of the services that relate to the directory in figure 11 By installing businesses on the desktop instant access to local businesses becomes a reality, With each municipality having it's own smart browser desktop searching outward from the postcode of the initiator.

Claims (5)

1. A desktop browser comprising of a representation of business types by icon giving priority to local businesses.

2. The browser of claim 1 where in each of the desktop icons is the first step of the search process further searching is carried out after the desktop icon is selected.

3. The desktop browser of claim 1 wherein each successive icon creates the file path for storing data.

4. The desktop browser of claim 1 wherein each successive icon creates key words in the string search, making WWW searching more specific. The desktop browser of claim 1 where further &wider search facilities are available including language translation. APPLICANT Ian Malcolm Wright DATE

25.01.2002