WO2002091229A2

WO2002091229A2 - Method and device for automatically providing information

Info

Publication number: WO2002091229A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/004980
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludwig Finkenzeller; Uwe Breier; Michael Dahmen
Original assignee: Varetis Ag
Priority date: 2001-05-07
Filing date: 2002-05-06
Publication date: 2002-11-14
Also published as: WO2002091229A3; DE10122062A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for automatically providing information with a search engine, whereby searched objects, which have a predeterminable generic feature such as line of business etc. and which are located inside an area that can be predetermined by geodata such as longitude and latitude, are identified and corresponding object identification data such as name, telephone number, etc. is automatically transmitted to a display device, particularly a mobile telephone, and/or is provided in a manner that enables it to be retrieved. According to the invention, a first search request is generated at a GIS database in order to obtain, for the searched area which is determined by geodata such as longitude and latitude, address data such as town, street, postal code etc. corresponding to the addresses located within the searched area. Based on the obtained address data, a second search request is then directed at a non-geocoded data stock, particularly a national telephone directory or classified business directory in order to obtain all objects and the associated object identification data, which fulfill the predeterminable generic feature and which have an address that corresponds with the previously determined address data. This enables a location-dependent item of information to be generated from a non-geocoded data stock.

Description

Method and device for automatically providing information

The present invention relates to a method for automatically providing information by means of a search engine, in which searched objects, which have a predefinable generic feature and are within a region that can be predefined by geodesics, are determined and corresponding object identification data are automatically transmitted to a display device and / or made available. The invention further relates to a device for such automatic information provision.

In the field of mobile telephony, there is an increasing need for location-based information services, so-called "location-based services". Mobile phone users request information from the corresponding information service about the nearest petrol station, the nearest restaurant or a list of objects of interest in a given area.

In order to be able to carry out a corresponding geographical assignment, the corresponding information service is transmitted geographic location data by the cell phone, which represent the current geographic position of the cell phone. The information services use geographically coded databases, i.e. H. they keep directories of e.g. B. restaurants, museums, petrol stations etc., in which geographic data are assigned to the individual entries. The searched results can be selected by comparing the location data of the mobile phone and the geodesics in the corresponding database.

Such information systems have so far been unsatisfactory. On the one hand, the existing databases of mostly local information systems only cover small areas. On the other hand, the topicality of the directories is poor. This is due to the sheer volume of data to be handled. When moving, doing business, etc., the database must be maintained, although geodetics for the new location of a store are usually not immediately available. Another- On the one hand, the always up-to-date data stocks of the national telephone companies are usually not geocoded, i.e. they do not contain any geographic data such as longitude and latitude or do not allow the national telephone companies to access their directory of information only on the general part, i.e. on the names, telephone numbers and address data however, on the geographic data, if available.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved method and an improved device of the type mentioned at the outset which avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and further develop the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular, an automatic location-based information system is to be created which, on the one hand, always guarantees topicality with a large area coverage and, on the other hand, does not require complex data maintenance with regard to geocoding.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. In terms of device technology, the stated object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 2. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore provided that, in response to a corresponding search query, in a first step an automatic determination of address data for addresses which lie within the searched area takes place by means of a first database in which geodetics are linked to address data. The determination is made on the basis of the location data transmitted by the seeker, which in particular can reflect his current position or on the basis of geodetics derived therefrom, which determine the area of interest. In a second step, the object identification data searched for is then determined on the basis of the previously determined address data and the predefined generic characteristic transmitted by the seeker, specifically by means of a second database in which object identification data are linked to address data and generic characteristics. The said second database can be a conventional non-geocoded database, such as e.g. B. that electronic telephone directory of the national telephone companies, or the generally available, non-geocoded part of these databases. The basic data of the national telephone directories are sufficient in the method according to the invention to nevertheless provide location-related information. This has the advantage that there is nationwide coverage and always up to date. In addition, the time-consuming data maintenance and updating that small information systems with geocoded object identification data require is avoided.

It is particularly advantageous to access a table extracted from a geographic information system, a so-called GIS, which is generated in a separate database, in order to determine the address data which indicate the addresses located within the searched area. Such a geographic information system returns various location or address data to a search request, the search argument of which can be geographic data such as longitude and latitude data. In particular, as a result of a corresponding search query, a list of locations, streets, house numbers or postcodes located within the searched area can be obtained.

In principle, geodesists of various types can be used to determine the area sought. These can be adapted to the system of a mobile radio operator, who can have geographic data relating to the current position of the mobile phone locked in the system using various methods. According to one embodiment of the invention, latitude and longitude data are advantageously used as geodesics.

In a further development of the invention, the system can comprise a device which prepares and determines the geodesics which are used as search arguments for access to the GIS database in a suitable manner for the respective database. In particular, the system can be transmitted by the mobile phone or the associated operator position information in degrees of longitude and latitude, which reflect the current position of the mobile phone, and a radius information. The latter indicates that, for. B. should be searched within a radius of 500 meters. Based on the position data and the radius data, the device then determines the corresponding geodesics in the form of longitudes and latitudes that are to be used as a search argument for the query to the GIS database.

Country, region, city, postcode, street and / or house number can be read from the GIS database as address data and used as search arguments for the second search query to the second database. The first database thus provides a list of e.g. B. Street names are available as a result, all of which are in the searched area. The second search query to the second database then uses the named list of street names as search arguments, as well as the generic feature such as. B. Restaurant and searches in the second database for objects that meet the two search arguments.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the address data read from the GIS database are automatically processed and / or selected in terms of quantity before they are used as a search argument. In particular, it can be provided that the number of address data records is limited or, if a predetermined number is exceeded, a next higher category is used. Are z. For example, if more than 100 street names are provided as the result of the first search query, it can be provided that a higher-level postal code area, ie one or more postal codes, is used as the search argument. This considerably reduces the amount of data to be processed when searching the second database.

In particular, the search query to the GIS database can be changed automatically depending on the radius specification. If a predetermined value is exceeded, z. B. be asked for postcodes, while if the value falls below a predetermined value, street names are asked for. It can be provided a finer outline of the shape that z. B. is asked for street names and house numbers. A dynamic adaptation of the address data used as a search argument for the second search query is therefore provided. Alternatively or in addition to the dynamic see change of the search query itself, processing of the address data received back from the GIS database can also be provided. Are z. For example, if too many street names are returned, only the list of superordinate postcodes can be used as a search argument for the query to the second database.

In a development of the invention, the address, name and / or telephone number of the respective object are determined from the second database as object identification data and are automatically transmitted or made available.

Sector information is used in particular as generic characteristics. In particular, a branch directory and / or a telephone directory in the form of an electronic database can be used as the second database.

The present invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and an associated drawing. The only figure in the drawing shows a schematic flow chart for location-based searches based on non-geocoded data sets which can be processed by the device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system according to the invention basically comprises two software components, namely an application running on a mobile phone and an application installed on a server, which can communicate and interact with one another via a mobile radio or Internet connection. In the drawing, a cell phone is schematically designated by the reference number 1. A server that processes a search request from the mobile phone 1 is denoted schematically by 2. In the embodiment shown, the server 2 comprises a GIS database 3, but it goes without saying that this is only a preferred embodiment and the GIS database 3 can also be provided externally. A second database 4, which can be a nationwide telephone or branch directory, is provided externally according to the preferred embodiment shown, ie the search engine or server 3 accesses it externally provided second database 4. In principle, however, the second database 4 can also be an internal component of the system.

In order to initiate automatic information, a user enters a search query into his cell phone 1 in the form of entering the desired branch and the radius of the searched area in which the search is to take place. For example, the user can select the generic feature "restaurant" and initiate a request that all restaurants within a radius of, for example, 500 meters should be searched for and communicated. This search request is transmitted to the search engine 2 Search engine 2 communicated the current position of the mobile phone 1, in particular in the form of a longitude and latitude.

The search engine uses the data provided to generate a first search query, which it sends to the first database 3, d. H. sets up the GIS database. The search query contains, as a search argument, the position information of the mobile phone and the corresponding radius information or, if appropriate, correspondingly prepared geographic data. Searched in the GIS database 3 stored address data such as city, postcode and streets that are within the searched area. Specifically, the search query can, for example, be formulated in such a way that it reads to the GIS database: "Give me all streets within a radius of 500 meters, starting from 49 ° 20 '10" N, 11 ° 30' 20 "" El ".

As the figure shows, the GIS database 3 contains an application-internal database with an assignment of location, postcode and street to longitude and latitude.

As a result of the first search query to the GIS database 3, a list of address data, in the specific example a list of street names, is then output, all of which meet the search query, namely are located in the searched area. In a subsequent method step, the server 2 generates a second search request, which is directed to the second non-geocoded database 4. The second search query contains as a search argument the list of street names as well as the previously specified generic characteristics, ie in the concrete example "Restaurant" includes, the second search query generated can have the following form: "Give me all restaurants on Grillparzerstraße, Einsteinstraße and Rosenheimerstraße!". The search result from the first, intermediate search step, which was obtained from the GIS database 3, is set in the original query by the cell phone 1 instead of the length and latitude information, and a search is thus initiated in the non-geocoded data inventory of the directory 4 ,

As a result of the second search query, the application 2 receives corresponding object identification data. In the specific case, this can be a list of restaurants including their name and address with their city, postcode and street as well as their telephone number. This object identification data is then transmitted back to the cell phone 1 by the server application 2.

The information system according to the invention is thus characterized in that location-based information can be provided from a non-geocoded data stock, in particular the telephone directory of a country-wide telephony provider. The use of such a database guarantees extensive area coverage and topicality, since the relevant database is maintained by the respective telephony provider in a timely manner.

Claims

claims

1.A method for automatically providing information by means of a search engine (2), in which searched objects which have a predefinable generic feature and are within a region which can be predefined by geodesics are determined and corresponding object identification data are automatically transmitted to a display device (1) and / or made available , characterized by the following steps:

- Automatic determination of address data for addresses which lie within the predeterminable area, by means of the predeterminable geodesics and a first database (3) in which geodesics are linked to address data, and

- Automatic determination of the object identification data sought by means of a second database (4), in which object identification data are linked to address data and generic characteristics, on the basis of the previously determined address data and the predeterminable generic characteristic.

2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the sought object identification data are transmitted to a telecommunications device, in particular a mobile phone (1).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the automatic determination of the address data by means of the first database is initiated by a search query of a mobile phone, which as a search argument specifies a geographical position, in particular the latitude and longitude, as well as an area size specification, in particular a radius.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein longitude and latitude data are used as geodesics.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predeterminable area and the associated geodesics are automatically determined from a position specification, in particular current location data of a mobile telephone, and a predeterminable radius specification, in particular radius data transmitted from the mobile telephone (1) to the search engine (2) become.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a GIS database is accessed to determine the address data.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein country, region, town, postal code, street and / or house number information are determined as address data.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a telephone and / or branch directory (4) is used as the second database.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object identification data address, name and / or telephone number of the respective object are determined and / or transmitted.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the address data, which are used to determine the object identification data by means of the second database, are determined dynamically, in particular as a function of a size of the predeterminable area and / or a quantity of data that is returned from the first database ,

11.Device for automatically providing information on searched objects which have a predeterminable generic feature and are within a predeterminable area determined by geodesists, with a first search query device (5) for generating and transmitting a first search query which contains the geodesics of the predefinable region as a search argument , to a first database (3) in which geodesics are linked to address data, to a second search query device (6) for generating and transmitting a second search query which contains address data output from the first database (3) as search arguments and the predefinable generic characteristic a second database (4), in which object identification data are linked with address data and generic features, and a data preparation device (7) for the automatic transmission and / or retrievable provision of the object identification data output by the second database (4).

12. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein a receiving device for receiving a search request from a mobile phone (1) is provided.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a determining device (5) is provided for determining the geodesics of the predeterminable area from a current position specification and a radius specification for the first search query.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a GIS database is provided as the first database (3).

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second database (4) contains branch information as generic features, in particular a branch directory and / or a telephone directory.

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the queryable database of the second database (4) is free of geocoding.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first database (3) contains location information, postal codes, streets and / or house numbers as address data.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second database contains, as object identification data, industry details, names, location details, postcodes, street details, house number details and / or telephone numbers.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a dynamic data processing device for dynamic processing and / or definition of the search arguments of the second search query.