CA2641340A1

CA2641340A1 - Enhanced search results

Info

Publication number: CA2641340A1
Application number: CA002641340A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Walton Lin; Sean Dorward; Luis Castro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Google LLC
Priority date: 2006-01-31
Filing date: 2007-01-31
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: KR101037144B1; EP1979842A1; US20100138425A1; JP2009525548A; WO2007090140A1; US7624101B2; CN101416186A; US20070192289A1; KR20080100218A; CN101416186B; US8108383B2

Abstract

A method includes receiving a search query from a user and generating search results based on the search query. The method may also include providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with a first one of the search results to the user.
The method may further include providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

Description

ENHANCED SEARCH RESULTS
BACICGROCJNI? OF T)TIE-INVENTION
Fie cl ; qf the Invention implementations described herein relate generally to information retrieval and, more particularly, to providing information in response to a search query.
Ae~scrf ption of Related Art The World Wide Web ("web") contains a vast amount of information. Locating a desired portion of the information, however, can be challenging. This probleni is compounded because the amount of information on the web and the number of new users inexperienced at web searching are growing rapidly.
Search engines attempt to return hyperlinks to web pages in which a user is interested. Generally, search engines base their determination of the user's interest on search terms (called a search query) entered by the user. The goal of a search engine is to provide links to high quality, relevant search results (e.g., web pages) to the 'user =based on the search query. Typically, the search engine accomplishes this by tnatching the terms in the search query to a corpus of pre-stored web pages. Web pages that contain the user's search terms are "hits" and are returned to the user as links.
When a user of an existing search engine receives links to web pages of various web sites, the user is often interested in identifying contact information associated with one or more ofthe web sites. For example, the user may be interested in identifying contact inforntation for a business that is associated with one of the web sites.
In this case, the user may select one of the links in an attempt to find the contact information. In many situations, the contact information is not located on the selected web page. In this case, the user may navigate from this first web =page to other web pages on the same web site to attempt to find the desired informatioxi. This may involve clicking through a number of web pages until the user is able to find the information of interest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect, a method may include receiving a search query from a user and generating search results based on the search query. The method may also include providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with at least a first one of the search results to the user. The method may further include providing a link to a map associated witli at least the first search result to the user, In another aspect, a system that includes a computer-readable medium containing instructions and a proce.s.sor coupled to the computer-readable anedium is provided. The processor executes the instructions to cause the processor to generate search results based on a search query and provide the search results and information identifying a telephone number and address associated with at least a first one ofthe search results to a user. The instructions also cause the processor to provide a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.
In a ftirther aspect, a system including a memory and a search engine is provided. The memory stores inforrnation associated with a pluraliiy of businesses. The search engine determines whether first information associated with a first one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a web page. The search engine also identifies at least some of the first information associated with the Crst business when the first information includes information identifying a web page and stores the identified information with the web page in a second database.
In still another aspect, a method may include receiving a search query from a user and generating search results based on the search query. The metbod may also include determining whether a web page associated with a first one of the plurality of search results includes a single address and telephone number and providing the search results and information identifying the address and telephone number associated with the first search result to the user, when the web page includes a sin.gle address and telephone number.
The method may further include providing a link to a map associated with the first search result to the user.
, BRIEF I3ESCIt1PTION OF THE DItAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings, Fig. I is an exemplary diagram illustrating a concept consistent with the principles of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a network in whicb systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may be implemented;
Fig. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a server in the network of Fig. 2 in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention;
Fig. 4 is an exemplary fiznctional block diagramm illustrating a search engine system in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention;
Fig_ 5 illustrates an exemplary portion of the local search data storage of Fig. 2 in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention;
Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating exempiary processing associated with mapping local search related information to a web page;
Fig. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating exem;plary processing associated with providing search results and local search information in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention; and Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate exemplary interface screens provided to a user in an implementation cansistent with the principles of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference nurnbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the inventior-.
OVERVIEW
Systetns and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may provide search results that include a number of links associated with-the search query. Along with the links, additional information, such as contact information to help a user locate a particular business, may be provided to the user. The additional information may help the user obtain information of interest very quickly.
Fig, I is an exemplary diagram illustrating an exemplary concept consistent with the principles of the invention. As shown in Fig. I, an interface screen 100 provided to a user in response to a search for Pierpont Morgan library include links 110 and 120 and a brief description of the links at areas 112 and 122, respectively.
In accordance with principles consistent with the invention, the search engine also returns additional inforrnation to the user. For example, referring to Fig. 1, the search engine may identify an address and/or telephone number of one or more of the links and provide this Eaformation to the user, as illustrated at area 114. Providing the address and telephone number for one or more of the documents may enable a user to obtain the desired information without having to select any of the links. In addition, the search engine may also provide a link to a map and other information, as indicated at area 116. By clicking on the Map & Info link at area 116, a map showing the location of the item of interest and/or additional information associated with the item of interest may be provided. In this manner, enhanced search resutts are provided to the user that enables the user to easily identify infortnation that may be of interest to the user.
In the description to follow, the term "document" is to be broadly interpreted to include any machine-readable and rnachine-storabie work product. A document tnay include, for example, a web page, information relating to a news event, an image file, information relating to a merchant product, information relating to a usenet page, a yellow page entry, a scanned book, a file, a connbination of files, one or more files with embedded links to other files, a blog, a web advertisement, an e-mail, etc. Documents often include textual information and may include einber}ded infonnation (such as meta information, hyperlinks, etc.) and/or embedded instructions (such as Javascript, etc.). A"1ink," as the term is used herein, is to be broadly interpreted to include any refere-noe to/from a document from/to another document or another part of the same document.
EXEMPLARY NETWORK
Fig. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a network 200 in which systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention rnay be implemented. Network 200 may include clients 210, server 220 and local search data storage 230 connected via network 240. Two clients 210, one server 220 and one local search data storage 230 have been illustrated as connected to network 240 in Fig. 2 for simplicity. In practice, there znay be more or fewer clients, servers and data storage devices. Also, in some instances, a client may perform a function of a server and a server may perform a function of a client. Additionally, in altemative implementations, the functions perfonned by one device may be performed by another device or may be combined with the functions performed by another device/system.
Clients 210 may include client entities. An entity may be defined as a device, such as a personal computer, a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a lap top computer, or another type of computation or communication device, a thread or process running on one of these devices, andfor an object executable by one of these devices.
Server 220 may include one or more server entities that gather, process, search, maintain, manage documents and/or provide search results to users. In an exemplary implernentation consistent with principles of tlte invention, server 220 may include search engine system 225 usable by clients 210. Search engine system 225 may receive search queries from clients 210 and return relevant information to clients 210. ln an exemplary implementation, search engine system 225 may include one or more components that gather, process and: maintain information for generating search results. In addition, search engine systenz 225 inay include a "local" search engine that provides results to a user based on geographical information provided to search engine system 225.
Local search data storage 230 may include inforcnation associated with locations of interests, such as companies/businesses, organizations, schools, libraries, etc. For example, local searcb, data storage 230 may include a business' name, address and/or telephone number. In an exernptary implementation, local search data storage 230 may be populated with inforination received from entities (not shown in Fig.

2) that collect and provide inforroation regarding businesses, such as yellow pages information or other information associated with businesses. For example, local data storage 230 nzay be populated with information received from third parties, such as InfoUSA, Acxiorn, etc. An entity associated with local search data storage 230, such as a local search engine systern included in search engine system 225 may also scan or review web pages to identify inforrnation that is to be stored in local.

search data storage 230. These records may then be clustered or gathered together for eacb business, organization, etc. and stored in iocal search data storage 230. The records for each business/organization stored in local search data storage 230 may be indexed by an identifier (ID), referred to herein as a cluster ID, that identifies the particular records associated with the business/organization. In some implementations, the cluster ID may be the name of the business. Searcb engine system 225 may use information in local search data storage 230 when returning search results to a user, as described in more detail below.
Network 240 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network.
(WAN), a telephone network, such as the Public Switched Telephone'Network (PSTN), an intranet, the lnternet, a different type of network, or a combination of networks. Clients 210 and server 220 may connect to network 240 via wired, wireless, or optical connections. In aEternative implementations, one or more of the devices illustrated in Fig. 2 may be directly connected to another one of the devices. For example, in one impieinentation consistent witli the principles of the invention, server 220 may be directly connected to local search data storage 230, as illustrated by the dotted' line in Fig. 2. In still other alternatives, local search data storage 230 may be part of search engine system 225.
In 'addition, server 220 and local search data storage 230 are illustrated in Fig. 2 as being single devices. It should be understood, however, that server 220 and local search data storage 230 may each be implemented as a network of computer processors, servers and/or databases.
EXEMPLARY SERVER ARCI-lZ'i'ECTURE
Fig. 3 is an exemplary diagram of server 220 in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention. Server 220 may include bus 310, processor 320, main memary 330, read only memory (ROM) 340, storage device 350, one or more inpitt devices 360, one or more output devices 370, and a communication interface 380. Bus 310 may include a path that permits communication among the componants of server 220.
Processor 320 may include any type of conventional processor, microprocessor or processing logic that interprets and executes instructions. Main memory 330 may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions for execution by processor 320.
ROM 340 may include a conventional ROM device or another type of static storage device that stores static infonnation and instructions for use by processor 320. Storage device 350 may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive.
Input device 360 may include one or more conventional nieclianisms that permit a user to input information to server 220, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, etc.
Output device 370 may include one or more conventional rnechanisxns that output information to the user, such as a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. Communication interface 380 may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables server 220 to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface 380 may include inechanistns for communicating with another device or system via a network, such as network 240.
Server 220, consistent with the principles of the invention, may perforin searches based on inputs from clients 210. Server 220 may perform these operations in response to processor 320 executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory 330. A computer-readable nxedium rnay be defined as one or more memory devices and(or carrier waves.
The software instructions may be read into memory 330 from another computer-readable medium, such as data storage device 350, or from another device via cQrrununication interface 380. The so$ware instructions contained in rrzemory 330 causes processor 320 to perform processes that will be described later. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes consistent with the principles of the invention. Thus, implementations consistent with the principles of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and sof'~i ware.
Fig. 4 is an exemplary functional block diagram of search engine system 225, according to an implementation consistent with principles of the invention. Search engine system 225 znay include mapping component 410, web search index storage 420 and search component 430. The fifnctional blocks illustrated in Fig.
4 may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combinati on of hardware and software. ln addition, each of the functional blocks may represent one or more coinputer processors, threads, and/or objects. It should also be understood that in alternative implementations, the functions performed by one of the functional blocks in Fig. 4 nzay be performed by another functional block. Further, in alternative implementations, a single functional block/processing device may perform the functions of search engine system 225.
Mapping component 410 may create a mapping from a web page to local search related infoi3nation, such as an address and/or telephone number of a business for which the web page is a home page. Mapping cornponent 410 may store the local search related information in web search index storage 420 along with the document with which the local search related iui:'oraxeation is associated.
For example, web search index storage 420 may store an address and teleph.one number for a business with the document (e.g., web page) for which the address and telephone number are related. This information may then be provided to the user in response to a search query, as described in more detail below.
Local search data storage 230, as described above, may include a list of businesses, organizations, schools, libraries, etc., and data associated with these entities. For example, as described previously, local search data storage 230 may store records for a business/organization that are indexed by a cluster ID.
Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary portion of local search data storage 230.
Referring to Fig. 5, local search data storage 230 may include an entry 500 and sub-entries 500-1, 500-2 and 500-3 associated with entry 500.
In the exwnple illustrated in Fig. 5, entry 500 stores "The Clift Hotel" and entry 500 rnay be a cluster ID
corresponding to the CIifI Hotel or www.clift.com. Sub entry 500-I stores a web site address associated with the Clift Hotel, sub entry 500-2 stores a street address for the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, C.A, an:d sub entry 500-3 stores a telephone number for the Clift Hotel. Local search data storage 230 may also include additional information associated with entry 500, such as additional locations and/or telephone numbers associated with ent.ry 500. Local search data storage 230 may further store additional information associated with entry 500, such as prices for rooms at the hotel, ratings for the hotel, etc. This additional information may be provided to a user after the user selects a link provided with the search result, as described in more detail below.
Local search data storage 230 may store similar information for a number of other companies/businesses, schools, libraries, organizations, etc. Mapping comporneut 410 may use the infbrmation in local search data storage 230 to create a mapping from information in web search index storage 420 to inforznation in local search data storage 230, as described in more detail below.
Referring back to Fig. 4, search component 430 may receive a search query from a client 210. Search component 430 may access web search index storage 420 to generate search results that identify relevant documents based on the search yuery. The relevant documents may also include local information associated with the particular documents. Search engine system 225 may then forward the seareh results and local information to the client 210 that submitted the original searah qucry, as described in more detail below.

EXEMPLARY PROCESSING
Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating exeznplary processing associated with mapping local search related infortnation to a web page consistent with the principles of the invention.
I'rocessing may begin by mapping component 410 examining each of the records stored in local search data stora.ge 230 to identify records that include a web site (act 610). For example, mapping component 410 may identify the records associated with entry 500 and determine that the records associated with entry 500 include the web site www.clift.com.
Mapping component 410 may then take the records associated with a cluster ID
that includes web site information and map the cluster ID to which the record belongs to the URL of the web site (act 620). In the example above, mapping component 410 may map "Clift Hotel" to www.clift.com, which may represent the home page of the Clift Hotel.
In some instances, a single cluster ID n-iay include records that include a number of URLs. In these instances, mappirzg component 410 may then determine whether multiple URLs exist for any of the cluster IDs (act 630). If multiple tJRLs exist for a single cluster ID, mapping component 410 may identify one of the URLs for that particular cluster ID (act 640).
For example, in one implernentation, mapping component 4 10 may identify one URL from multiple URLs associated with a cluster ID by examining which sources or feeds provided the UR.Ls for that cluster ID. That is, mapping component 410 may identify a feed from one particular source, such as InfoUSA, as being more likely to contain useful and/or reliable information than information from another source_ Mapping component 410 may then identify tlhe URL from the more reliable source when mapping the cluster ID to a URL.
Alterrtatively, mapping component 4 10 may access the web pages corresponding to the multiple URLs and determine if the address and telephone number included in the records associated with the cluster ID match the information on one of the web pages corresponding to the UR.i..s. If the information on one of the web pages matches the address and t.eleplione number stored in local search data storage 230, mapping component 410 may select that IJRL as being the correct UR.I. to map to the cluster ID.
In still further alternatives, mapping component 410 may perfornl a "WHOIS"
query with a domain name registry entity, such as Network Solutions. The WBOIS query will provide a business name, address and telephone number associated with a domain name. If the information provided in response to the WHOIS query rnatches the address and telephone nunnber stored in local search data storage 230, mapping component may select that URL as being the correct URL to map to the cluster ID.
In addition to attempting to identify supporting evidence regarding mapping a URL to a cluster II) in local search data storage 230, search engine system 225 may also look for conflicting information to identify the appropriate URL. For example, if the address and/or telephone number included on a web page corresponding to one of the URLs conflicts with the address and/or tslephone number that is stored in local search data storage 230, search engine systern 225 may discount or ignore that UItL. for mapping purposes. Further, if search engine system 225 finds many addresses on a web page oorresponding to one of the URLs, this may indicate that the URL/web site is a directory site. In this case, searcb engine system 225 xnay discount or ignore that URL for mapping purposes.
In one implennentation consistent with the invention, search engine system 225 may also determine not to map a cluster ID to a URL based on the size of the web site associated with the URL. For example, suppose that the URI, is www.dell.com. In this case, the contact information associated with dell.com stored in local search data storage 230 may not be of practical value to a user since the contact information may be merely a corporate address and general telephone nurnbar. Therefore, search engine system 225 may detem3ine the number of web pages associated with a web site for which the UR.1. is one of the web pages. If the nrtmber of web pages on the web site exceeds a predetermined number, search engine systern 225 may determine that the contact information for that URL should not be provided to the trser. It should be understood that the predetermined number of web pages that are used to indicate that the URL and contact information associated with that URL, should not be displayed may be any particular number. This allows search engine system 225 to not provide contact information (e.g., address and telephone number) when the information is not likely to be of value to a user.
Therefore, in some instances, search engine system 225 may not map a cluster ID to a URL even when the information for the URL matches the information stored in local search data storage 230.
After mapping the local search cluster 1D to a URL, mapping cornponent 410 may invert the mapping information to create a rnapping from the URL, to the local search cluster ID.
Mapping component 410 may then store aEl or some of the information associated with the cluster ID in web search index storage 420 with the appropriate URL (act 650). For example, mapping component 410 rnay store the contact information for the Clift Hotel (e.g., the address and telephone nur'nber stored at entries 500-2 and 500-3) in web search index storage 420 with the URL for the Clift Hotel. In this manner, information associated with a particular web page stored in web search index storage 420 may inelude, for example, a hyperlink to the web page, a snippet of text associated with the particular web page along with contact inforrnatinn (e.g., address and telephone number). For example, the entry associated with www.clifthotel.com may include the name and snippet associated with the Clift Hotel, along with the address and telephone number for the Clift Hotel. Searcli engine system 225 may then provide the local search related information when providing search results to clients 210, as described in more detail below.
Fig. 7 illustrates exemplary processing associated with providing search results and local search information in an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention. The processing described below uses the example of providing searcb results via a network, such as network 240. The techniques described herein, however, nia.y be used in any search system. Processing may begin with a client 210 accessing server 220 via network 240 and receiving a user interface (Ut) for entering a search query.
Altenrcatively, client 210 may have a toolbar associated with search engine system 225 [oaded on client device 210 that facilitates entry of search queries.
Assume that the user enters a search query via client 210 and transrn its the search query to server 220 via network 240. Search engine system 225 rnay receive the search query (act 710). In an exemplary implementation, search component 4,30 receives the search query, executes the search and generates search results (act 720). These search results may include advertisements based on the search query. In addition, search engine systern 225 may identify local search related information, such as an address and telephone number, associated with one or more of the particular search results.
For example, assume that a query from one of clients 210 is "Clift". In this case, fru-ther assume that search engine systezza 225 generates search results that that include a link associated with a web site for the Clift-1-Iotel in San Francisco, CA_ Further assume that web search index storage 420 stores local information associated with the Clift Hotel, as described above. For example, assume that web search index storage 420 stores. the address and telephone number for the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, Cp. with the listing for www.clift.com. In this case, search component 430 retrieves the address and telephone number of the Clift Hotel in San Francisco along with the title/hyperlink to the Clift Hotel and a snippet stored in web search index storage 420. The search results and contact inforxnation may then be provided to the user (aet 730).
Fig. 8 illustrates an exernplary user interface screen 800 provided to the user at act 730.. Referring to Fig. 8, search engine system 225 may provide a title and hyperlink for a web page at area. 810 and a snippet associated with the web page at area 812. According to an exemplary implementation consistent with the invention, search engine system 225 may also provide the address and telephone number for the Clift Hotel at area 814. As illustrated in Fig. 8, providing the contact infottnation after the title and before the snippet makes it very easy for the user to find the add.ress and telephone number, as opposed to placing the contact information over top of the search results. This makes it more likely that the user will be able to clearly see the contzct inforrnation.
Search engine system 225, consistent with the invention, may also include a linlc to a map and other information associated with the Cliil Hotel, as indicated by tbe Map & info link at area 816 (act 730). This link may be selected by the user to provide a n=-ap and additional information to the user (act 740). For example, assume that the user selects the Map & info link at area 816. After selecting the link, search engine system 225 may provide a user interface screen 900 to the user, as illustrated in Fig. 9, Referring to Fig. 9, user interface screen 900 may include a roap at area 910 that shows the location of the Clift Hotel. A user rnay be able to zoom in or out on tlie map by clicking on the appropriate controls associated with the map. In this rrnanner, the map is automatically provided to the user without requiring the user to access another web site and enter an address.
Although not described in detail herein, search engine system 225 may store latitude and longitude information associated with addresses of various items of interest. For example, search engine system 225 may store latitude and longitude infozmation associated with the address displayed at area 814 in pig. S. When a user selects the Map & info link at area 816 in Fig. 8, the latitude and longitude information is automatically provided to a map generator component enat provides the map displayed at area 910.
Search engine system 225 may provide additional information associated with the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, CA via user interface screen 900. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 9, user interface screen 900 may include additional telephone numbers for the Clift Hotel at area 920 and other inforrnation associated with the Clift Hotel at area 930. In an exemplary implementation, user interface screen 900 may represent a lauding page associated with the Clift Hotel that includes infonnation stored by local search data storage 230 and search engine system 225. This landing page information, as illustrated in Fig. 9, may include, for example, pricing for hotel roorns, ratings for the hotel, parking information, etc. The information may be collected =froa=n a nurnber of sources and may be selected to provide the user with information that is likely to be of use or be relevant to a user. In addition, the selected information may be formatted on a user interface screen, such as user interface screen 900, in an easy to read manner that allows the user to quickly find information of interest.
In some instances multiple cluster IDs may exist for a single URL. For example, assume that a URL is the home page for a chain of restaurants, such as Wendy's. In this case, the URL for the home page may link to a number of cluster TDs associated with different individual restaurants. These cluster IDs and information associated with each of these cluster IDs may not be relevant to the user's search query.
For example, a cluster ID associated witb a Wendy's restaurant in New York City will probably not be relevant to the user in San Francisco searching for a Wendy's restaurant. Therefore, seareh engine system 225 may deternnine whether multiple cluster IDs exist for a single URI, generated in the search results (act 750). If multiple cluster 1Ds exist for a single URI.., search engine system 225 may not provide the local information (e.g., address and telephone number) along with the search results returned to the user.
Alternatively, search engine system 225 may provide a link to the local search system to search for the business nane near the user's location. For exaniple, the search engine system 225 may identify the user's location based on an Internet protocol (Tp) address of the user's client device 210.
That is, search engine system 225 rtlay be able to idcntify a geographical locatian cyfclient device 2 I0 based on the IP
add.ress associated with the nser's search query. In another alternative, search engine system 225 may be able to identify the user's location based on receipt of a cookie included with the search query. For example, if the user has previously performed a local search using search engine system 225, search engine system 225 may have requested that the user enter an address associated with the user. In this case, in subsequent accesses of search engine system 225, a cookie including the user's location/address may be provided to search engine system 225. In either of these cases, search engine system 225 may automatically perforrn a local search using the location information associated with the user and identify the appropriate local search business listing. Search engine system 225 may then provide the appropriate contact information (e.g., address and telephone number) as well as the link to a map and other inforn7ation based on the identified busines.s location (act 760).
If no particular business contact information and/or map can be located using the local search, search engine system 225 may not identify any local infornzation for that parcicular search result and may also not provide a link to a map and other information with that particular search result.
In another alternative implementation, if multiple cluster IDs exist for a single URL, search engine system 225 may provide a link to the local search system with one or naore of the search results. In this case, if the user selects the link, the local search engine system may automatically enter the search query and location information and display local seairch results with that query. The location information in this query may be autornatically identified by the IP address associated with the user, a cookie received by search engine system 225 or some other method. Alternatively, the local search engine systezn may provide an input box to allow the user to enter the desired location after the user selects the link.
CONCLUSION
Implementations consistent with the principles of the invention may provide enhanced search results that include contact-related infoiznation. This contact inforination may allow the user to find the information of interest very quickly. The enhanced search results may also include a link to a map and other information that allows the user to view additional information in a manner that requires little to no additional input from the user.
The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed_ Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, while series of acts have been described with regard to Figs. 6 and 7, the order of the acts niay be varied in other implementations consistent with the present invention.
Moreover, non-dependent acts may be implemented in parallel_ Also, implementations consistent with principles of the invention have been described with respect to gathering and storing inforrrtation associated with businesses and organizations from various sources and using this stored information to identify contact information for a business/organization. It should be understood that the local contact inform.ation could be gathered in a number of other ways. For exam,ple, in another implementation, search engine system 225 could ext-ra.ct address and/or telephone numbers from a web page and display that information with the search result that includes that web page. For example, if a web page has a single address and telephone number on the web page, search engine system 225 could extract that address and telephone number and display it with the web page's title/hyperlink and snippet when that web page is included as part of the search results.
In addition, in some implementations, the l'uilc to the map and other information may be provided with the search results, as opposed to requiring the user to select a link to the map/other information. In such implesnentations, the map and/or other infonnation may be provided for only a certain number of the search results, such as a first predetermined number of most relevant results. In addition, directions to the item of interest may be automatically provided in some implementations along with the xnap or as a link provided with the nnap. In such irnplementations, the directions may be generated based on the location of the business associated with the search result and the location of the user. The user's location may be automatically determinecl based on an IP address associated with the user or a cookie received by the search engine system, as described above. In other implementations, the user's location may be determined based on global positioning syst:ern (GPS) information included with a user query or with a cookie included with a user query.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that aspects of the invention, a.s described above, may be implernented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement aspects consistent with the principles of the invention is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code--it being understood that one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to design software and contro[ hardware to implement the aspects based on the description herein.
No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such.
Also, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term "one" or similar language is used.
FurEher, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving a search query from a user;
generating search results based on the search query;
providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with at least a first one of the search results to the user; and providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing a link to a local search system with a second one of the search results.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
automatically generating a map in response to selection of the link by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
automatically providing first information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first information comprises information associated with the first search result that is likely to be relevant to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
automatically providing first information with the first search result and a map showing a location associated with the first search result to the user, the first information and the map being located on a same user interface screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address comprises:
providing the telephone number and the address to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the search results and information identifying at least one of a telephone number or an address further comprises:
providing the telephone number, the address and the link to a map to the user via a user interface screen, the telephone number, the address and the link being located below a title of the first search result on the user interface screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
storing information associated with a plurality of businesses in a first database;
determining whether first information associated with a first one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a web page;
identifying at least some of the first information associated with the first business when the first information includes information identifying a web page; and storing the identified information with the web page in a second database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first information comprises the telephone number and the address of the first business.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating search results comprises:
accessing the second database to generate the search results and to identify the at least one of a telephone number or an address associated with the first search result.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
determining whether information in the first database associated with a second one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a plurality of locations; and when the generated search results include a second web page associated with the second business and the first database includes information identifying a plurality of locations associated with the second business, providing a link to a local search system to the user with a second search result associated with the second business.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether information associated with a second one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations;
identifying a first location associated with the user; and providing information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the second search result based on the first location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying a first location comprises:
identifying the first location based on an Internet protocol address associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying a first location comprises:
identifying the first location based on address information included with a cookie received with the search query.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the map to the user in response to selection of the link; and providing directions with the map to the user, the directions being based on a location of the address associated with the first search result.

17. A system, comprising:
means for generating search results based on a search query;
means for providing the search results and information identifying at least one of an address or a telephone number associated with at least a first one of the search results to a user;
and means for providing a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:
means for automatically providing the map and information associated with the first search result in response to selection of the link.

19, The system of claim 17, further comprising:
means for providing a link to a local search system associated with a second one of the search results and not providing a link to a map for the second search result.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:
means for determining whether information associated with a second one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations;
means for identifying a first location associated with the user; and means for providing information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the second search result based on the first location.

21. A system, comprising:
a computer-readable medium containing instructions; and a processor coupled to the computer-readable medium, the processor executing the instructions to cause the processor to:
generate search results based on a search query, provide the search results and information identifying a telephone number and address associated with at least a first one of the search results to a user, and provide a link to a map associated with at least the first search result to the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions further cause to the processor to:
automatically provide the map to the user in response to selection of the link, and provide first information associated with the first search result on a same user interface screen as the map.

23. A system, comprising:
a memory to store information associated with a plurality of businesses; and a search engine to:
determine whether first information associated with a first one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a web page, identify at least some of the first information associated with the first business when the first information includes information identifying a web page, and store the identified information with the web page in a second database.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first information comprises the address and the telephone number of the first business and the search engine:
receives a search query from a user, accesses the second database to generate search results and to identify the address and the telephone number associated with a first search result associated with the first business, and provides the first search result, the address, the telephone number and a link to a map associated with the address to the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the search engine:
determines whether information in the first database associated with a second one of the plurality of businesses includes information identifying a plurality of locations, and when a generated search result identifies a second web page associated with the second business and the first database includes information identifying a plurality of locations associated with the second business, provides a link to a local search system to the user with a second search result associated with the second business.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the search engine:
generates search results in response to a user query, determines whether information associated with a first one of the search results identifies a plurality of locations, identifies a first location associated with a user that submitted the search query, when the information associated with the first search result identifies a plurality of locations, and provides information identifying an address of one of the plurality of locations with the first search result based on the first location.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the search engine identifies the first location based on at least one of an Internet protocol address associated with the user and address information included with a cookie received with the user query.

28. A method, comprising:
receiving a search query from a user;
generating search results based on the search query;
determining whether a web page associated with a first one of the plurality of search results includes a single address and telephone number;
providing the search results and information identifying the single address and telephone number associated with the first search result to the user, when the web page includes the single address and telephone number; and providing a link to a map associated with the first search result to the user.