IP Library Granted Patent US 12,530,708
Granted Patent B2
US 12,530,708 · App. 17/968,351 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Knowledge search engine method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for enhanced business listings

Inventors: Howard Lerman (New York, NY); Kevin Caffrey (Alexandria, VA); Catherine Frailey (New York, NY); Benjamin Berry (New York, NY); Maxwell Shaw (Manhattan, NY); Akul Penugonda (New York, NY); Marc Ferrentino (New York, NY); Dan Tran (New York, NY); Jonathan Kennell (New York, NY)
Assignee: Yext, Inc.
G06Q30/0625G06F16/90332G06F16/951G06Q30/0281
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,530,708
App. No.
17/968,351
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a knowledge search engine platform to identifying first data associated with a merchant system from one or more databases based on a search query submitted by a user device. The knowledge search engine platform generates a user dialog interface to display to the user device to enable a communication to collect additional information to supplement the first data. Second data to supplement the first data is received from the user system via the user dialog interface. Responsive to receiving the second data, a set of communications are transmitted to a set of search provider systems, where each communication of the set of communications comprising a recommended update comprising the first data and the second data.

Claims (50)

1 . A method comprising:

identifying, by a processing device of a source system, first data associated with a merchant system from one or more databases based on a search query submitted by a user device;

generating, by the processing device of the source system, a user dialog interface for collection of additional information supplementing the first data;

receiving, from the user device via the user dialog interface, second data to supplement the first data, the second data identifying a first portion of the merchant system which needs to be updated and a second portion of the merchant system which does not need to be updated;

providing a request by the user device to the processing device of the source system for verification of the second data, wherein the verification comprises providing the second data directly to the merchant system for review and approval, wherein the verification further comprises:

establishing an additional dialog interface between one or more merchant users associated with the merchant system and the source system, wherein the one or more merchant users comprise a first merchant user and a second merchant user;

determining, by the processing device of the source system, that the first merchant user is not authorized to update the merchant system using the second data and the second merchant user is authorized to update the merchant system using the second data;

sending a message comprising a permission to update data via the additional dialog interface to the second merchant user;

responsive to the approval of the second data by the merchant system, receiving, from the merchant system, verification of the second data;

responsive to receiving the verification of the second data, transmitting, via a first application programming interface (API) associated with a search provider system, a communication comprising a recommended update, the recommended update comprising the first data and the second data, such that responses to future searches to the search provider system are based on the first data and the second data; and

responsive to receiving the second data, transmitting an additional communication to the merchant system, wherein the additional communication comprises the first data and the second data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting at least one information element from the search query.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transforming the search query into a natural language format inquiry.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user dialog interface comprises at least one of: a chat-message interface, a search card, or an interactive map interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

responsive to the review of the second data, rejecting the second data by the merchant system.

6 . A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory, to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:

identifying first data associated with a merchant system from one or more databases based on a search query submitted by a user device;

generating a user dialog interface for collecting additional information supplementing the first data;

receiving, from the user device via the user dialog interface, second data to supplement the first data, the second data identifying a first portion of the merchant system which needs to be updated and a second portion of the merchant system which does not need to be updated;

providing a request by the user device to the processing device of the source system for verification of the second data, wherein the verification comprises providing the second data directly to the merchant system for review and approval, wherein the verification further comprises:

establishing an additional dialog interface between one or more merchant users associated with the merchant system and the source system, wherein the one or more merchant users comprise a first merchant user and a second merchant user;

determining, by the processing device of the source system, that the first merchant user is not authorized to update the merchant system using the second data and the second merchant user is authorized to update the merchant system using the second data;

sending a message comprising a permission to update data via the additional dialog interface to the second merchant user;

responsive to the approval of the second data by the merchant system, receiving, from the merchant system, verification of the second data;

responsive to receiving the verification of the second data, transmitting, via a first application programming interface (API) associated with a search provider system of a set of search provider systems, a first communication comprising a recommended update, the recommended update comprising the first data and the second data, such that responses to future searches to the search provider system are based on the first data and the second data; and

responsive to receiving the second data, transmitting an additional communication to the merchant system, wherein the additional communication comprises the first data and the second data.

7 . The system of claim 6 , the operations further comprising extracting at least one information element from the search query.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the search query comprises at least one of: voice data, text data, or a user display gesture received at the user device.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the user dialog interface comprises at least one of: a chat-message interface, a search card or an interactive map interface.

10 . The system of claim 6 , the operations further comprising transforming the search query into a natural language format inquiry.

11 . The system of claim 6 , the operations further comprising:

responsive to the review of the second data, rejecting the second data by the merchant system.

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device of a source system, cause the processing device of the source system to perform operations comprising:

identifying first data associated with a merchant system from one or more databases based on a search query submitted by a user device;

generating a user dialog interface for collecting additional information supplementing the first data;

receiving, from the user device via the user dialog interface, second data to supplement the first data, the second data identifying a first portion of the merchant system which needs to be updated and a second portion of the merchant system which does not need to be updated;

providing a request by the user device to the processing device of the source system for verification of the second data, wherein the verification comprises providing the second data directly to the merchant system for review and approval, wherein the verification further comprises:

establishing an additional dialog interface between one or more merchant users associated with the merchant system and the source system, wherein the one or more merchant users comprise a first merchant user and a second merchant user;

determining, by the processing device of the source system, that the first merchant user is not authorized to update the merchant system using the second data and the second merchant user is authorized to update the merchant system using the second data;

sending a message comprising a permission to update data via the additional dialog interface to the second merchant user;

responsive to the approval of the second data by the merchant system, receiving, from the merchant system, verification of the second data;

responsive to receiving the verification of the second data, transmitting, via a first application programming interface (API) associated with a search provider system of a set of search provider systems, a first communication comprising a recommended update, the recommended update comprising the first data and the second data, such that responses to future searches to the search provider system are based on the first data and the second data; and

responsive to receiving the second data, transmitting an additional communication to the merchant system, wherein the additional communication comprises the first data and the second data.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , the operations further comprising extracting at least one information element from the search query.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the user dialog interface comprises at least one of: a chat-message interface, a search card or an interactive map interface.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , the operations further comprising:

responsive to the review of the second data, rejecting the second data by the merchant system.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: LERMAN, HOWARD; CAFFREY, KEVIN; FRAILEY, CATHERINE; BERRY, BENJAMIN; SHAW, MAXWELL; PENUGONDA, AKUL; FERRENTINO, MARC; TRAN, DAN; KENNELL, JONATHAN
To: YEXT, INC.
Reel/Frame 072910/0725 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: YEXT, INC.
To: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 071295/0620 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY (AS SUCCESSOR TO SILICON VALLEY BANK)
To: YEXT, INC.
Reel/Frame 071133/0247 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2022
From: YEXT, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 062213/0142 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16177015 · Oct 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62671918 · May 15, 2018
Provisional Application 62661367 · Apr 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62579748 · Oct 31, 2017
Related Publication 20230093606A1 · Mar 23, 2023
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