Wireless information retrieval

1. A computer-implemented method of accessing information comprising:

processing query text and a wireless identifier received from a wireless device, the processing comprising:

parsing the query text to generate a search fragment;

substituting long form words for abbreviations contained in the search fragment in conjunction with an abbreviations dictionary; and

adding context to the search fragment;

searching a collection of data for a set of results matching the query text;

selectively reducing, in conjunction with viewing space on the wireless device, the set of results to generate a subset of results;

outputting a prose rendition of the query text; and

outputting the subset of results on the wireless device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein adding context comprises extracting data from a web page from which the query text was received.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein adding context comprises extracting data from a previously presented results page from which the query text was received.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein selectively reducing comprises:

placing the set of results in a hierarchical data structure organized by taxonomy; and

discarding results positioned at a lowest level of the hierarchical data structure.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein outputting the prose rendition comprises:

processing the query text in conjunction with rules of grammar; and

processing the query text in conjunction with a prose configuration file.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein outputting of the subset comprises placing the subset in a table.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising customizing the table to the wireless device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein customizing the table to the wireless device comprises:

loading a wireless style sheet database;

locating a style sheet that matches the wireless identifier in the style sheet database; and

reducing the length and width of the table in accordance with the style sheet.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein reducing further comprises subdividing the table into a plurality of smaller tables.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein customizing the table comprises:

loading an abbreviations dictionary; and

replacing long form words in the table with corresponding abbreviations in the abbreviations database.

11. A computer-implemented method of accessing information from a wireless device comprising:

processing query text and a wireless identifier received from the wireless device, the processing comprising:

parsing the query text to generate a search fragment;

substituting long form words for abbreviations contained in the search fragment in conjunction with an abbreviations dictionary; and

adding context to the search fragment;

searching a collection of data for a set of results matching the query text;

selectively reducing, in conjunction with viewing space on the wireless device, the set of results to generate a subset of results;

outputting a prose rendition of the query text; and

outputting the subset of results on the wireless device according to a style sheet.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the query text is a combination of text, sentence fragments and abbreviated words.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the query text is sentence fragments.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the query text is abbreviated words.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the query text is speech.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein adding context comprises extracting data from a web page from which the query text was received.

17. The computer-implement method of claim 11 wherein adding context comprises extracting data from a previously presented results page from which the query text was received.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein selectively reducing comprises:

placing the set of results in a hierarchical data structure organized by taxonomy; and

discarding results positioned at a lowest level of the hierarchical data structure.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein outputting the subset comprises:

placing the subset in a table; and

reducing the length and width of the table in accordance with a style sheet.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 wherein reducing further comprises dividing the table into a plurality of smaller tables.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein outputting the subset comprises replacing long form words in the table with corresponding abbreviations in an abbreviations database.

22. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, including instructions for causing a computer to:

process query text and a wireless identifier received from a wireless device, the processing comprising:

parsing the query text to generate a search fragment;

substituting long form words for abbreviations contained in the search fragment in conjunction with an abbreviations dictionary; and

adding context to the search fragment;

search a collection of data for a set of results matching the query text;

selectively reduce, in conjunction with viewing space on the wireless device, the set of results to generate a subset of results;

output a prose rendition of the query text; and

output the subset of results on the wireless device.

23. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, including instructions for causing a computer to:

process query text and a wireless identifier received from a wireless device, the processing comprising:

parsing the query text to generate a search fragment;

substituting long form words for abbreviations contained in the search fragment in conjunction with an abbreviations dictionary; and

adding context to the search fragment;

search a collection of data for a set of results matching the query text;

selectively reduce, in conjunction with viewing space on the wireless device, the set of results to generate a subset of results;

outputting a prose rendition of the query; and

output the subset of results on the wireless device according to a style sheet.