WO2002054281A2

WO2002054281A2 - Method for periodically performing internet searches

Info

Publication number: WO2002054281A2
Application number: PCT/CA2001/001864
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven J. Arsenault
Original assignee: Arsenault Steven J
Priority date: 2000-12-29
Filing date: 2001-12-28
Publication date: 2002-07-11
Also published as: WO2002054281A3; AU2002218912A1

Abstract

According to previous methods of on-line searching, a user would necessarily logon to the search engine for each search session. The present invention allows the user to enter search parameters and have the search continue while the user is logged off. The user is alerted by Short Message System to a wireless device when a match has been found.

Description

METHOD OF REPORTING INTERNET SEARCHES

This application claims priority from United States provisional patent application serial No. 60/258,605 entitled METHOD OF REPORTING INTERNET SEARCHES filed 29 December, 2000.

Technical Field

The invention relates to methods of searching for information online, and more particularly to a method of searching for information on the Internet which involves a search continuing while the customer is off-line and notifying the customer by wireless communication device once a 'match' is located.

Background Art

Current searches for information on the Internet involve a user accessing the World Wide Web via browser software on the user ' s computer terminal, accessing an appropriate web site by pointing the browser software at the URL for the web site, and awaiting the requested information from the search while waiting at the computer terminal. Currently, it is common for wireless devices, such as cellular or mobile telephones and personal digital assistants, to be able to gain access to the Internet using micro-browsers or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browsers. Since these devices charge per minute of air time, waiting for search results from a search conducted over the Internet is expensive. Also in some search situations the desired information is not immediately available as there are no matches for the search terms, but becomes available so that a match would have been found if the search was conducted after the user has logged off.

Currently wireless devices can be equipped with Wireless Short Message Service (SMS) which transmits short text messages to and from wireless devices. Applications of SMS include two-way general-purpose messaging and notification services for voice mail, electronic mail and fax integration, paging integration, interactive banking, and information services such as stock quotes. A short message service center (SMSC) acts as the store-and-forward system for forwarding the short messages over the wireless network. An active wireless device is able to receive or submit a short message at any time, independent of whether or not a voice or data call is in progress. Delivery of the short message by the network is ensured since temporary failures are identified, and the short message is stored in the network until the destination becomes available. Disclosure of Invention

The present invention therefore provides a method of searching Internet databases offline using wireless devices and providing wireless messaging. In particular the invention provides a method of searching over a computer network and delivering the search results, comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to users on the network via a plurality of client terminals and comprising a server, said server being adapted to i) conduct key word searches over the Internet; ii) forward e-mail messages; and iii) maintain user accounts; b) obtaining registration information from a user for billing and contact purposes , including an e-mail address ; c) providing means for said user to select search parameters and initiate a search for such search parameters; d) periodically searching over the Internet until a match for said search parameters is located; and e) forwarding the search results by an e-mail to the e-mail address associated with said user.

The present invention further provides a method of searching over a computer network and delivering the search results, comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to users on the network via a plurality of client terminals and comprising a server, the server being adapted to i) conduct key word searches over the Internet; ii) forward e-mail messages; and iii) maintain user accounts; b) providing a message service for forwarding e-mail messages to a user's wireless device; c) obtaining registration information from a user for billing and contact purposes, including an e- mail address; d) providing means for the user to select search parameters; e) periodically searching over the Internet until a match for the search parameters is located; f) forwarding the search results by e-mail to the e-mail address associated with the user; and g) forwarding the e-mail message to the user's wireless device by the messaging service.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for carrying out the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the method of the invention. Best Mode(s) For Carrying Out the Invention

The World Wide Web is currently the most widespread and useful system for exchange of information between computers . Internet users or clients obtain documents formatted in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) from servers over the Internet using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) by linking an HTML-compatible browser to the server's Universal Resource Locator (URL). This will normally be done on a standard computer terminal, although access may be made via a wireless device, which includes cellular or mobile telephones, pagers and personal digital assistants, by using a WAP browser.

In Fig. 1 a mobile telephone 10 operating over the Personal Digital Cellular system communicates with base station 12. The Visited Mobile Services Switching Center (NMSC) 14 and Gateway Mobile Services Switching Center (GMSC) 22 carry the mobile service to the Public Switched Telephony Network (PSTN) 18 or to the Integrated Services Digital Network. The Short Message Services Center (SMCS) 16 provides the short message service to mobile device 10 and is connected to Internet 20 to receive emails and retransmit them as short messages.

To utilize the method of the invention, a person first links his or her browser, whether on a standard computer terminal 24 or a wireless device 10, to the target web site, which may be a search engine, to register for the service. This will normally be done on a standard computer terminal, although access may be made via wireless device 10 using a WAP browser. The user must first complete payment information, for example charging the search fees to a credit card. Next the system allows the user to enter information on how they wish to be contacted and how often such as, for example:

Specify when to call to report a received email: Immediately when a match for the search term is located;

After messages have been accumulated.

Daily/ every days.

Specify the frequency of call-backs for receipt of email if busy or no answer: Immediately, every minutes, and every days.

Specify immediate notification for a specific product or message; Notify of all email with attachments - system will audibly "speak" the name of the attached file when reporting; Notify of any email that contains certain text messaging.

Contact options include wireless devices , SMS messaging, email, land based telephone or pager. Frequency of contact can be programmed into the call back feature as well as content type or messages.

Finally, the user is asked a number of questions about the search he or she wishes to carry out. In the case of a real estate search, the person enters the desired location, price range, number of bedrooms etc. In the case of a search for a used car, the user enters the model type, age and price range. The present invention can also be used for personals dating services. The user enters the type of person they are searching for (age, sex etc.). The search terms are then entered and the user logs off the site.

Thus there are different structures for search terms based on the details of each particular category. After the user selects a category of search, the appropriate sequence of search term choices is established. Individual attributes are searched based on their unique categories. These categories determine the complexity, type and number of attributes to be searched for the initial series of matches. The scope and complexity of searching for database items is based on the type of service or product being searched. For example, finding a match for a model and year of used car is a simpler search than for a perfect mate. To 'personalize' the amount and quality of data that may be found and then transferred to the member's wireless device, mileage considerations can also be used. That is, a user registering on the site can enter his or her geographical location, and when entering the search parameters can specify that a match for the search terms should only be reported if the person/item is located within a maximum radius from the user. The search software then calculates the distance of any match located from the user using latitude and longitudinal coordinates or other mapping technology. If the user has a GPS (Global Positioning System) enabled wireless device, then the system can update the location of the user and deliver the information once the user comes within the maximum distance from the located person/item. When the user is logged off the web site, the system will still continue to search the active database and contact the user once it finds a match or something close to it, according to the user's contact instructions. Once particular matches are found, the process is then refined possibly numerous times (if the result is too high) to ensure the result is the most accurate representation of the data to be sent to the person as an SMS or message(s). The "found data" is then summarized into a short message of less than 127 characters. This information is then sent to the member's cellular email account along with a response telephone number.

From the user's end, once contact is made, the user will have the option to act on the message to complete the transaction or make contact with the individual they wish to contact, for example, in the case of a "personals" service. The person can then act on the message and complete the ecommerce transaction through the system's Internet servers or a voice call be connected to a secure communications systems as described in the present inventor's International application, publication no. WO 00/31950 "Interactive Voice Personal and Live Connection Telephone System".

Example 1

User wishes to locate a particular item on an auction web site, but the item is not currently available. User logs into the search web site and enters the target auction web site (e.g. eBay.com), the target item description using key words (e.g. "Ty Beanie Baby Maple") and enters the search. The search engine carries out the search each day at the eBay site and on the 7th day a match for the search terms is found. An email is sent to the user's wireless device by SMS according to the user's contact instructions, alerting the user of the location of the item and providing the web address for locating the item.

Example 2

Since many newspaper classified sections are now searchable on the Internet, the method is particularly useful for the newspaper classified advertising area. A user wishes to locate a particular item from a newspaper classified section, say a job opening, used car or an apartment available for rent, but the item is not currently available. The user logs into the search web site and enters the target newspaper classified web site (e.g. www . vancouversun. com) , the target item description using key words (e.g. "apartment two bedroom $800 Kitsilano", or "1957 Chevrolet mint condition" or "waitress downtown part-time") and enters the search. The search engine carries out the search each day at the target web site and on the 30th day a match for the search terms is found. An email is sent to the user's wireless device by SMS alerting the user of the location of the classified ad and providing the web address for locating the ad, or the phone number to contact the advertiser.

Similarly, since many newspaper personals columns are also now searchable on the Internet, the method is particularly useful for the personals column area. A user wishes to locate a particular type of companion from a newspaper personals section. The user logs into the search web site and enters the target newspaper personals web site, and a description using key words (e.g. "single female age 20 outdoors") and enters the search. The search engine carries out the search each day at the target web site and on the 2nd day a match for the search terms is found. An email is sent to the user's wireless device by SMS alerting the user of the location of the classified ad and providing the phone number to contact the party. Alternatively the system may provide a phone number for a chat system and a code to enter in order to talk live to the located potential companion.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of searching over a computer network and delivering the search results, comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to users on the network via a plurality of client terminals and comprising a server, said server being adapted to i) conduct key word searches over the Internet; ii) forward e-mail messages; and iii) maintain user accounts; b) obtaining registration information from a user for billing and contact purposes, including an e-mail address; c) providing means for said user to select search parameters and initiate a search for such search parameters; d) periodically searching over the Internet until a match for said search parameters is located; and e) forwarding the search results by an e-mail to the e-mail address associated with said user.

2. A method of searching over a computer network and delivering the search results, comprising: a) providing a web site accessible to users on the network via a plurality of client terminals and comprising a server, said server being adapted to i) conduct key word searches over the Internet; ii) forward e-mail messages; and iii) maintain user accounts; b) providing a message service for forwarding e-mail messages to a user's • wireless device; c) obtaining registration information from a user for billing and contact purposes, including an e-mail address; d) providing means for said user to select search parameters and initiate a search for such search parameters; e) periodically searching over the Internet until a match for said search parameters is located; f) forwarding the search results by an e-mail to the e-mail address associated with said user; and g) said message service forwarding said e-mail message to said user's wireless device.