Claims:1. A method for providing business directory search results comprising of:
a. providing a directory of business listings comprising of all the businesses in the search engine;
b. users placing at least one search query related to a desired business category;
c. comparing said search query with said business listing in the directory by the search engine;
d. retrieving a highest weighted result from the business directory to create a list of all businesses with the said keyword; and
e. formation of a list with all the relevant businesses which are displayed to the user;
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the users can place a search request from the web browser with atleast one search query.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the search query can contain a keyword, a business location information, business name information, and user's location information.
, Description:Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of searchable directories, and more particularly to searchable online business related directories to search for businesses.
Background of the Invention
Today, the Internet has proven itself to be an extremely effective communication medium. Given this reality, it is not surprising that there is a sharp increase in the number of content providers that employ the Internet, making the Internet space very competitive. Generally, content providers have varied offerings that include a wide range of products and services. Accordingly, Internet content and service providers are constantly trying to develop enhancements, improve their reliability, and improve their quality of content to better their position in the market space.
There are several business directory search engines which are available in market such as yellow pages, which offers users access to searchable databases that maintain a variety of data and information. In the physical realm, this business directory is generally referred to as the “Yellow Pages”. Typically, Internet based “Yellow Pages” take the form of a computing application providing, among a variety of other functions, the ability to search vast amounts of business demographic information.
Internet based business directories generally rely on third party business information vendors for content. The third party information, however, is grouped according to general category schemes that provide little insight, if any, to the specific demographic information of the businesses listed in these categories. But if a particular keyword is searched by a user to search for a type of business, then all the business where the keyword is listed are displayed below, whether it is a true vendor or a dealer. Also there are several fake business listing done which can mislead the users who wants to pursue the business, creating an opportunity for fraud.
Therefore in order to overcome all the drawbacks, there is a need for a business directory-type search engines that are capable of efficiently providing more relevant, authenticated and useful content to users.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention discloses a system and method that allow the searching, maintenance, and display of directory listings. According to the present invention, the business directory search engine may be used by the users to search for various businesses online, where only authenticated businesses are listed. The business directory search engine may employ user preference information to provide relevant and helpful search results when processing search queries. The search preference information allows the user to search for information about businesses in a variety of manners including by business location, the location of the user, or by general business categories.
According to the present invention, the business directory search engine may perform searches business listing information based on user’s interest, using inputted data indicative of various location information, such as city name, state name, zip code, address, type of business or a combination thereof. A bounded search may employ location information indicative of city name and state name, whereas a proximity search may utilize the zip code or address location information.
The search engine initially authenticates the business owners prior to business listing in their search engine and then the data is provided to the users. Also the search engine allows the users to easily and securely contact the business owners, where the users can not only retrieve information about the business owners, but also chat with the business owners at any point of time. The search engine also allows the users to create their account and store their business related information in their accounts.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The present invention discloses a system to provide an efficient search engine that provides relevant business directory listing information. The present invention discloses a system and method that allow the searching, maintenance, and display of directory listings. According to the present invention, the business directory search engine may be used by the users to search for various businesses online, where only authenticated businesses are listed. The business directory search engine may employ user preference information to provide relevant and helpful search results when processing search queries. The search preference information allows the user to search for information about businesses in a variety of manners including by business location, the location of the user, or by general business categories.
The present invention was developed to provide a search engine for directory listing data that offers more relevant and reliable search results on the businesses which are listed. According to the present invention, the search engine is for use with a business directory, providing listings of all kinds of businesses. The search engine employs a unique process of keyword matching and matching other criteria that delivers results faster and accurately. The search engine uses the keyword which are provided by the users to perform a search, which tunes the keyword processing to search for the accurate results.
The search engine employs various search processes when processing search queries. These search processes may include the use of keywords, a location, a pin code, an area, a geographic location attributes, and so forth. Keywords are unique synonyms (“shortcuts”) for any node in the category taxonomy. For example, the keyword “laptop” may be a shortcut for a general category describing the electronic goods dealers.
According to the present invention, the business directory search engine may perform searches business listing information based on user’s interest, using inputted data indicative of various location information, such as city name, state name, zip code, address, type of business or a combination thereof. A bounded search may employ location information indicative of city name and state name, whereas a proximity search may utilize the zip code or address location information.
The search engine initially lists down all the businesses in their directory, and the attributes are then attached to the businesses, based on the products and services provided by the businesses. The businesses which are listed in the directory are authenticated and then approved for listing.
The search engine initially authenticates the business owners prior to business listing in their search engine and then the data is provided to the users. Also the search engine allows the users to easily and securely contact the business owners, where the users can not only retrieve information about the business owners, but also chat with the business owners at any point of time. The search engine also allows the users to create their account and store their business related information in their accounts.
The users can use the search engine to perform searches on the various businesses based on various criteria to obtain the results set which are displayed to the user. A proximity search may be triggered directly by the user in entering location information exclusively in the search interface dialog, or by the search engine itself if the direct business name results in no matches. When executing a proximity search, the search engine plots a latitude/longitude centroid (i.e. a central reference point) and conducts a search within a predetermined radius of the plotted centroid. In order for a business to be part of the result set of businesses listed, the distance between the centroid and position of the discovered business must satisfy pre-determined search criteria. Comparatively, the search engine may employ a bounded search to find the desired information. In a bounded search the search engine uses any given zip code or collection of zip codes (i.e. neighborhood, city, or state) to conduct the search for the desired business listing. Similar to the other operations above, businesses that match the search criteria submitted by the search interface through a bounded search are displayed to the user.
In addition, the search engine my perform searches on the business listings store using business attributes. That is, a business may have unique attributes that may separate it from other businesses. The search engine process a user's search query by looking for these business characteristics listed by the business owners.
The present invention discloses a system and methods for the searching of the business directory listing information hosted on a web browser. The system and method provides the users the ability to search of directory listing information for desired listing information.
The method of searching the business directory by the user requires the web browser and communication network. A plurality of users are connected to the web browser through computer hardware such that the user may request, transmit, and receive internet content instantly. The process of search includes posting a query by a user; identification of the keyword by the business directory search engine; searching for he keyword by the search engine; retrieving information from the business directory, displaying the list of matching businesses with the related key attributes; users choose the specific clients to do business with; and the users can choose to save the list for future use.
According to the present invention, the search engine uses the various criteria for retrieving the most relevant directory listing information to satisfy search queries. In having the data stored according to this exemplary taxonomy, business listings may be more easily retrieved in a number of different manners. The various levels within the taxonomy allow for the existence of various associations among the data such that searches may be performed to capitalize on these associations. In addition, the taxonomy deployed provides advantages that improve search operations and enhance users' search experiences. For example, the taxonomy allows for the creation of two distinct business listing information trees. The canonical tree presents to users all of the business listing information without editorial commentary. This tree may have a small number of levels from the broadest category nodes to the actual business listings. Conversely, the editorial tree has a larger number of category levels. The editorial tree presents business listing information according to editorialized categories (nodes) and keywords. By having these varied taxonomy trees, the search operation is optimized.
According to the present invention, the search engine can be used to process a search query offering requesting a specific listing within a specified distance range (i.e. location). The search query data from the search interface is passed to the processing portion of search engine lists all the businesses which matches within a predefined proximity value (e.g. nearest 20 or within miles from location set by the user). If this search is unsuccessful in finding any business listing with the listing name offered in the search query, search engine again reaches the initial page where search is performed. If the search is successful, search engine displays the list of search results. The results with a keyword match are displayed in the main search results area.
The present invention describes the processing performed by search engine when performing a category or keyword search. The search query information is passed from search interface to search engine where the search is performed at on business directory listing storage for a keyword match. If the search is successful, the business which is having high match is displayed at the top. Similarly other similar businesses are displayed below the first result based on the relevance and match. If the search of is unsuccessful, the web browser directs the user to the first page where search has to be initiated again.
The present invention may be implemented in a variety of computer systems. The various techniques described herein may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both. Preferably, the techniques are implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers that each include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. .
Although exemplary embodiments of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.