Dynamic menus for multi-prefix interactive mobile searches
The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth.
1. An interactive information retrieval system, including non-transitory computer-accessible storage media, that searches a database of content items, the system comprising:
a. a multi-prefix search module, embodied in a first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that receives keystrokes as they are entered by a user into a mobile device, searches for content items within the database that contain words having a prefix matching the keystrokes, and generates a set of search results containing matching content items;
b. a search result delivery module, embodied in the first non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, that delivers the set of search results to the mobile device for display to the user;
c. a client application, embodied in a second non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium, running on the mobile device that generates, based on the content of at least one of the set of search results, at least one user-selectable dynamic menu item that is displayed as a screen object on a touchscreen of the mobile device with the set of search results, the user-selectable dynamic menu item invoking a built-in functionality of the mobile device when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item, and
d. wherein the client application identifies one or more data fields within the content of at least one of the set of search results, and the built-in functionality of the mobile device invoked by the user-selectable dynamic menu item references at least one of the data fields.
2. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises placing a phone call using the mobile device.
3. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises sending a message using the mobile device.
4. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 3 , wherein the message comprises an email.
5. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 3 , wherein the message comprises a SMS message.
6. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises determining directions from a first location to a location identified in the one or more data fields.
7. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 6 , wherein the first location is a location of the mobile phone determined using a GPS locator.
8. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 6 , wherein the first location is a predefined location contained within a data filed of the mobile phone.
9. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises obtaining a map of a desired area.
10. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises displaying a customer review.
11. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the built-in functionality of the mobile device that is invoked when the user selects the user-selectable dynamic menu item comprises playing a video trailer.
12. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the client application is capable of distinguishing between a first method of selecting the user-selectable dynamic menu item by the user and a second method of selecting the user-selectable dynamic menu item by the user, the first and second methods being different, and the built-in functionality of the mobile device invoked by the first and second methods reference different data fields.
13. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the client application is capable of distinguishing between a first method of selecting the user-selectable dynamic menu item by the user and a second method of selecting the user-selectable dynamic menu item by the user, the first and second methods being different, and the built-in functionality of the mobile device invoked by the first and second methods invoke different reference built-in functionalities of the mobile device.
14. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user-selectable dynamic menu item is contained in a user selectable drop-down menu.
15. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the client is capable of determining whether the user is logged into a channel on the mobile device, and the data field referenced by the built-in functionality of the mobile device when the user is logged into the channel is different than the data field referenced by the built-in functionality of the mobile device when the user is not logged into the channel.
16. The interactive information retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the client is capable of determining whether the user is not logged into a channel on the mobile device, and the user-selectable dynamic menu item generated by the client application when the user is logged into the channel is different than the user-selectable dynamic menu item generated by the client application when the user is not logged into the channel.