Location uncertainty in search
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for providing search results based at least in part on uncertainty.
1. A method comprising:
estimating, by a network-connected device, a location of a mobile device and a radius of a probable location region; and
providing search results to the mobile device that include the estimated location and the radius as factors in ranking search results.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimated location and the radius are based at least in part on signals received from a source external to the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radius is determined based at least in part on one or more dynamic IP addresses of the mobile device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radius is based at least in part on a confidence threshold such that there is a 95% probability that the mobile device is located within a region characterized by the radius.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radius is based at least in part on a confidence threshold expressed as a probability that the mobile device is located within a given geo-political area.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radius is based at least in part on a measure of movement of the mobile device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimated location and the radius are based, at least in part, on one or more IP addresses of the mobile device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimating the location of the mobile device is based, at least in part, on signals from a source other than the mobile device.
9. A system comprising:
a computing device comprising one or more processors; the one or more processors to estimate a location of a mobile device and a radius of a probable location region, and provide search results to the mobile device that include the estimated location and the radius as factors to rank search results.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the estimated location and the radius are to be based at least in part on signals to be received from a source external to the mobile device.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the radius is to be determined based at least in part on one or more dynamic IP addresses of the mobile device.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the radius is to be based at least in part on a confidence threshold such that there is to be a 95% probability that the mobile device will be located within a region characterized by the radius.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the radius is to be based at least in part on a confidence threshold to be expressed as a probability that the mobile device is located within a given geo-political area.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the radius is to be based at least in part on a measure of movement of the mobile device.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the estimated location and the radius are to be based, at least in part, on one or more IP addresses of the mobile device.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the estimated location of the mobile device is to be based, at least in part, on signals from a source other than the mobile device.
17. An article comprising:
a non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon executable to: estimate a location of a mobile device and a radius of a probable location region, and provide search results to the mobile device that include the estimated location and the radius as factors to rank search results.
18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions executable such that the estimated location and the radius are to be based at least in part on signals to be received from a source external to the mobile device.
19. The article of claim 17 , wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions executable such that the radius is to be determined based at least in part on one or more dynamic IP addresses of the mobile device.
20. The article of claim 17 , wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions executable to increment the radius.