`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0260604 A1
`Bedingfield, SR.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`US 2004O260604A1
`
`(54) METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`LOCATION-BASED YELLOW PAGE
`SERVICES
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................................ 705/14
`
`(76) Inventor: lays C. Bedingfield S.R., Lilburn, GA (57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Correspondence Address:
`BEST CORPORATION
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-0903 (US)
`9
`10/026,836
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. .................................................. G06F 17/60
`
`Embodiments of the present invention relate to Systems and
`methods for providing location-based yellow pages infor
`mation. In an embodiment, the System includes a yellow
`pages database. The yellow pages database can include a
`plurality of advertiser entries. Each advertiser entry of at
`least a Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries can include
`an advertiser identifier field to store an advertiser identifier
`and an advertiser measured location information field to
`Store advertiser measured location information.
`
`ADVERTISER PAYSAFEE TO
`NCLUDETS MEASURED
`"lorino AiNA
`LOCATION-BASEDYELLOW
`PAGES DATABASE
`
`
`
`410 USER ACCESSES LOCATION
`BASEDYELLOWPAGES
`SERVICE
`
`415
`
`
`
`
`
`420
`
`
`
`423
`
`427/SRETRIEVE USER MEASURED
`LOCATION INFORMATON
`YES
`
`CANUSER
`EASURED LOCATIO
`INFORMATION BE
`RETRIEVED
`
`NO
`
`25
`
`RECEIVE USER locATION
`INFORMATION
`
`YES
`
`CANUSER
`SPECIFY LOCATION
`?
`NO
`
`NVENTIONAL
`CO
`O
`PRESENTATION OF
`ADVERTISER LISTINGS
`
`END
`
`430 - USERSPECIFIES CATEGORY
`OF YELLOWPAGES LSTINGS
`
`435/s ADVERTISER LISTING(S)
`CORRESPONDING TO USER
`SPECIFED CATEGORY
`DENTIFIED
`
`440
`
`DENTIFED ADVERTISER
`LISTING(S) HAVING
`MEASURED LOCATION
`INFORMATIONSORTED BY
`DSTANCE FROM USER
`LOCATION
`
`445/
`
`IDENTIFIED ADVERTISER
`LISTING(S) HAVING NO
`MEASURED LOCATION
`INFORMATIONSORTED (E.G.,
`ALPHABETICALLY)
`
`SORTED AND IDENTIFIED
`460- ADVERTISER LISTING(s)
`PRESENTED TO USER
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 1 of 19
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`| 1 ||
`
`Z/ |
`
`NOLLWOOT !
`
`Nõ?V?JÕGNÏT
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23, 2004 Sheet 1 of 6
`
`ÅRHOVNE|WN
`
`SESO\/d
`WAOTTEÅ
`
`q=Sv8-NOILWOOT·
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 2 of 19
`
`
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23, 2004 Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`OOZ
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NOI LISOCH
`
`SONINIWRJE_LEO
`
`WNELSÅS
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 3 of 19
`
`
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23, 2004 Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`00€
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 4 of 19
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AYOODALVOSAISIOAdSYASNL-ogrp'Ol4
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23,2004 Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`SONILSITSAOVdMOTIFAJO
`
`
`
`AYXODALVOG3lsIO3dS
`
`Q3lsILN3a!
`
`-YASNOLONIGNOdSSYYOO
`
`
`
`(S)ONILSITYASILYSAGYGer
`
`
`
`ONIAWH(S)ONILSIN
`
`
`
`YSSILYSAGVG3ISILNaG!Ovr
`
`NOILVYOO1
`
`AdGALYOSNOLLVWHYOSNI
`
`Y4ASNWOYSJONVLSIO
`
`
`NOILVOO1GSYyNsvV4aW
`
`
`QSYNSVAWY3SSNSAAI813y
`
`NOILVWYOANINOILVOOT
`
`Zev
`
`SHA
`
`
`
`ONSNIAVH(S)ONILSIT
`
`
`
`YSSILYSAGVGAIsILN3Gl
`
`Str
`
`NOILVOO1GSYNSVAaW
`
`
`
`NOILVY9O1Y¥ASNSAIFOSY
`
`STAY
`
`
`
`
`
`“©)'9)GALYOSNOLLWWHOSNI
`
`(ATIVOILASVHd1V
`
`YyasnOLGALNSS3aYd
`
`GAIsLLNAC!GNVGALYOS
`
`
`
`(S)ONILSITYASILYSADVJ-goy
`
`NOILVWYOSNI
`
`SHA
`
`YASsSNNVO
`
`
`
` éNOILVOO71AdIDAdS
`
`ON
`
`TWNOILNSANOD
`
`
`
`SONILSITYASILYSACY
`
`dONOIWLINASSAadot
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 5 of 19
`
`NID4a
`
`
`
`asvavLlvdSa9vd
`
`
`
`Ol444VSAVdYSSILYSAGV
`
`
`MOTIAA
`
`G3SVE-NOILV9071VNINOILVAHOANINOLLVDO1
`
`
`
`Q3ayNSVAWSLIAGNTIONI
`
`SOV
`
`
`
`-NOILVOO01SASS3OOVYaSN ObY
`
`
`
`
`
`S39VdMOTIAAGsaSVd
`
`FOINSS
`
`YASNNVO
`
`
`
`OILYOO1GaYyNSV3
`
`a4NOILVWYOSNI
`
`QSAqINLaY
`
`ON
`
`SIP
`
`O¢V
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 5 of 19
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23, 2004 Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`3
`
`8
`
`g
`
`s
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 6 of 19
`
`
`
`Patent Application Publication Dec. 23, 2004 Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`
`
`S.
`
`S
`
`ons.
`CC
`1.
`CC
`X
`
`-
`H
`
`:
`
`:
`
`i
`
`:
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 7 of 19
`
`
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`LOCATION-BASED YELLOW PAGE SERVICES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 Embodiments of the present invention relate to
`location-based Services. More particularly, embodiments of
`the present invention relate to Systems and methods for
`location-based yellow page Services.
`0003 2. Background Information
`0004 Known yellow pages include a directory of adver
`tisers and associated information (e.g., business name, busi
`neSS telephone numbers, business address, business e-mail
`address, business network address (e.g., www.businessad
`dress.net), etc.) classified by category of advertiser. For
`example, a consumer may want to identify and/or locate
`business establishments (e.g., Stores, offices, etc.) of a par
`ticular business type (e.g., hardware, computers, pool Ser
`vices, department Stores, movie theatres, etc.). The con
`Sumer can view the Section of the yellow pages associated
`with that particular busineSS type, and that Section typically
`lists one or more busineSS establishments of the particular
`business type. Advertisers typically pay a fee to the pub
`lisher of the yellow pages to be listed in the yellow pages,
`but do not pay a Supplemental fee to include information
`Such as a phone number, a Street address, a city identifier, a
`Zip code, and So on. The yellow pages can be published as
`a hard copy or may be electronically accessible. Examples
`of known electronically accessible yellow pages include
`yellow pages accessed via a network (e.g., the Internet, the
`Web, an intranet, etc.), via a computer-readable medium
`(e.g., a compact-disc read only memory (“CD-ROM"), via a
`telephone company Service, and So on. Yellow pages
`accessed via a telephone company Service can include an
`operator-assisted Service, an interactive voice response
`(“IVR') system, and so on.
`0005. A known method of finding a business establish
`ment in a specific location based on location information in
`yellow pages listings includes identifying Zip codes of
`busineSS establishments listed in the yellow pages. For
`example, a reader of a yellow pages book can visually Scan
`through yellow pages listings to identify businesses having
`a particular Zip code. Another known method of finding a
`busineSS establishment at or around a Specific location based
`on location information in yellow pages listings includes
`identifying busineSS establishments having the same tele
`phone area code and/or telephone exchange. Known elec
`tronically-accessible yellow pages allow a user to request
`information about a category of businesses in a specific Zip
`code, area code, locality (e.g., city, town, State, etc.), and So
`on. Zip code, area code, and telephone exchange location
`information is typically not very precise. In View of the
`foregoing, it can be appreciated that a Substantial need exists
`for Systems and methods that can advantageously provide
`for location-based yellow page Services.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0006 Embodiments of the present invention relate to
`Systems and methods for providing location-based yellow
`pages information. In an embodiment, the System includes a
`yellow pages database. The yellow pages database can
`
`include a plurality of advertiser entries. Each advertiser
`entry of at least a Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries
`includes an advertiser identifier field to Store an advertiser
`identifier and an advertiser measured location information
`field to Store advertiser measured location information.
`0007. In another embodiment, a system for providing
`location-based yellow pages information can include a first
`Server that contains a processor, a network port coupled to
`the processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The
`memory Stores a plurality of instructions configured to be
`executed by the processor. The plurality of instructions can
`include location-based yellow pages database access
`instructions. The System can also include a yellow pages
`database coupled to the first Server. The yellow pages
`database can include a plurality of advertiser entries. Each
`advertiser entry of at least a first Subset of the plurality of
`advertiser entries can include advertiser measured location
`information, and each advertiser entry of at least a Second
`Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries can lack adver
`tiser measured location information.
`0008. As a further Summary example, a method for
`providing location-based yellow pages information may
`include Storing a plurality of advertiser entries in a yellow
`pages database, where each advertiser entry of at least a first
`Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries includes an
`advertiser identifier field to store an advertiser identifier, an
`advertiser category identifier field to Store one or more
`category identifiers, and an advertiser measured location
`information field to Store advertiser measured location infor
`mation. The method may include Storing advertiser mea
`Sured location information in at least each advertiser entry of
`a Second Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries, where
`the Second Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries is a
`Subset of the first subset of the plurality of advertiser entries.
`User measured location information and user advertiser
`category identifier may be received. One or more advertiser
`entries of the plurality of advertiser entries may be Selected
`based at least in part on the user advertiser category iden
`tifier. The Selected one or more advertiser entries may be
`presented based at least in part on the user measured location
`information and the advertiser measured location informa
`tion of the Selected one or more advertiser entries.
`0009. According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, a System for providing location-based yellow
`pages information includes means for Storing a plurality of
`advertiser entries in a yellow pages database. Each adver
`tiser entry of at least a first Subset of the plurality of
`advertiser entries may include an advertiser identifier field to
`Store an advertiser identifier, an advertiser category identifier
`field to Store one or more category identifiers, and an
`advertiser measured location information field to Store
`advertiser measured location information. The System may
`also include means for Storing advertiser measured location
`information in at least each advertiser entry of a Second
`Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries, where the Second
`Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries is a Subset of the
`first subset of the plurality of advertiser entries. In addition,
`the System may include means for receiving user measured
`location information and means for receiving a user adver
`tiser category identifier. Means for Selecting one or more
`advertiser entries of the plurality of advertiser entries based
`at least in part on the user advertiser category identifier may
`be part of the System. The System can further include means
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 8 of 19
`
`
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`for presenting the Selected one or more advertiser entries
`based at least in part on the user measured location infor
`mation and the advertiser measured location information of
`the Selected one or more advertiser entries.
`0010. In another embodiment of the present invention, a
`method for providing location-based yellow pages informa
`tion can include a step for Storing a plurality of advertiser
`entries in a yellow pages database. Each advertiser entry of
`at least a first subset of the plurality of advertiser entries
`includes an advertiser identifier field to Store an advertiser
`identifier, an advertiser category identifier field to Store one
`or more category identifiers, and an advertiser measured
`location information field to Store advertiser measured loca
`tion information. The method also includes a step for Storing
`advertiser measured location information in at least each
`advertiser entry of a second Subset of the plurality of
`advertiser entries, where the Second Subset of the plurality of
`advertiser entries is a subset of the first Subset of the plurality
`of advertiser entries. According to the method, there is a step
`for receiving user measured location information and a step
`for receiving a user advertiser category identifier. There is
`also a step for Selecting one or more advertiser entries of the
`plurality of advertiser entries based at least in part on the
`user advertiser category identifier. The method also includes
`a step for presenting the Selected one or more advertiser
`entries based at least in part on the user measured location
`information and the advertiser measured location informa
`tion of the Selected one or more advertiser entries.
`0011. According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, a method of providing a location-based yellow
`pages Service includes operating a yellow pages Service that
`includes a yellow pages database. The yellow pages data
`base can include a first Set of advertiser entries and a Second
`set of advertiser entries. The first set of advertiser entries
`includes advertiser measured location information, and the
`Second Set of advertiser entries lacking advertiser measured
`location information. The advertisers corresponding to the
`first Set of advertiser entries are charged a fee to include
`advertiser measured location information in the yellow
`pages database.
`0012. In a further embodiment of the present invention, a
`method of providing a location-based yellow pages Service
`includes operating a yellow pages Service that contains a
`first advertisers information and a Second advertisers infor
`mation. The first advertisers information includes measured
`location information, and the Second advertisers informa
`tion lackS measured location information. The first adver
`tiser is charged an additional fee based at least in part on
`including measured location information as part of the first
`advertiser's information.
`0013. According to a further embodiment of the present
`invention, a computer-readable medium Stores a plurality of
`instructions to be executed by a processor for providing
`location-based yellow pages information. The plurality of
`instructions includes instructions to Store a plurality of
`advertiser entries in a yellow pages database. Each adver
`tiser entry of at least a first Subset of the plurality of
`advertiser entries including an advertiser identifier field to
`Store an advertiser identifier, an advertiser category identifier
`field to Store one or more category identifiers, and an
`advertiser measured location information field to Store
`advertiser measured location information. The plurality of
`
`instructions also include instructions to Store advertiser
`measured location information in at least each advertiser
`entry of a Second Subset of the plurality of advertiser entries,
`where the second subset of the plurality of advertiser entries
`is a subset of the first subset of the plurality of advertiser
`entries. The computer-readable medium also stores instruc
`tions to receive user measured location information and
`receive a user advertiser category identifier. The instructions
`also include instructions to Select one or more advertiser
`entries of the plurality of advertiser entries based at least in
`part on the user advertiser category identifier and instruc
`tions to present the Selected one or more advertiser entries
`based at least in part on the user measured location infor
`mation and the advertiser measured location information of
`the Selected one or more advertiser entries.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0014 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment
`of the present invention.
`0015 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`0016 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`0017 FIG. 4 shows a method in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0018 FIG. 5 shows an illustration of how advertiser
`listing information lacking measured location information
`can be presented to a user.
`0019 FIG. 6 shows an illustration of how advertiser
`listing information can be presented to a user.
`0020. Before embodiments of the invention are described
`in detail, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the
`invention is not limited in its application to the details of
`construction, the arrangements of components, and the
`arrangement of StepS Set forth in the following detailed
`description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
`capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or
`being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
`that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the
`purpose of description and should not be regarded as lim
`iting.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0021 According to an embodiment of the present inven
`tion, an advertiser (e.g., a company, a corporation, a part
`nership, an organization, an individual, etc.) pays a fee to
`include its measured location information in a location
`based yellow pages database of a location-based yellow
`pages Service. In another embodiment of the present inven
`tion, a user accessing a location-based yellow pages Service
`can be charged a fee to retrieve information about advertis
`ers that have included their measured location information in
`the location-based yellow pages Service. AS used to describe
`embodiments of the present invention, measured location
`information encompasses location information that allows a
`calculation of the relative distance (e.g., in miles, in kilo
`meters, in meters, in yards, in hours, in minutes, and So on)
`between two locations to be determined. Examples of mea
`Sured location information include location information that
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 9 of 19
`
`
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`is based at least in part on two measured dimensions.
`Examples of location information that is based at least in
`part on two measured dimensions include X-Y location
`information, vector location information (e.g., an angle and
`distance from a point, a magnitude and direction, etc.), three
`dimensional location information (e.g., two-dimensional
`location information and height or altitude information),
`latitude and longitude information, Global Positioning Sys
`tem (“GPS”) information, and so on. Area codes or zip codes
`are examples of designated areas. Area code or Zip code
`information does not allow a precise calculation of the
`relative distance between two locations to be determined.
`For example, when two locations are in the same area code
`or Zip code, a calculation of the relative distance between the
`two locations cannot be determined based on the area code
`or Zip code information. AS another example, two locations
`in adjoining Zip codes can be meters or miles apart.
`0022. A user can access the location-based yellow pages
`Service, e.g., via a network, via the Internet, via the public
`switched telephone network (“PSTN”), via a wireless com
`munications network, and So on. The measured location
`information of the user can be determined by the location
`based yellow pages Service. In another embodiment, the
`measured location information can be determined by a
`network and then used by the location-based yellow pages
`Service. Known network Systems can determine user mea
`Sured location information by identifying a Street address
`(e.g., Street address with a Zip code, a street address with the
`city and State information, etc.) based on a phone number
`and then querying a geographic information System with the
`Street address information. The geographic information SyS
`tem can return the latitude and longitude of the Street
`address/phone number. For example, the user measured
`location information can be determined via a user-entered
`fixed-location telephone number (e.g., a landline telephone
`number, a fixed-wireless local loop telephone number, etc.)
`and an automatic location database (e.g., an automatic
`location database comparable or Similar to an automatic
`location information (“ALI”) database of an Enhanced 911
`(“E-911) system). An automatic location database can store
`measured location information corresponding to fixed-loca
`tion telephone numbers. In an embodiment in which the user
`accesses the location-based yellow pages Service via a
`computer, the measured location information of the user can
`be stored, for example, in a cookie on the computer (e.g.,
`after it is determined by a network System based on a
`telephone number, after it is entered by the user, etc.). In
`another embodiment, the yellow pages Service can prompt
`the user to enter his measured location information. In a
`further embodiment, the user can enter a phone number
`(e.g., his home phone number, his mother's home phone
`number, an office phone number, etc.) and the measured
`location information can be determined by a network posi
`tion determination System and then Stored in a data record
`(e.g., as “my house”, “mom's home”, “the office') or used
`by the location-based yellow pages Service.
`0023 The user can look up advertisers in a yellow pages
`category. The yellow pages Service can present (e.g., list,
`announce, etc.) advertisers in order of distance from the user
`location, e.g., presenting the closest advertiser first, the next
`closest advertiser Second, and So on. For example, the
`yellow-pages Service can present the ten (10) closest adver
`tisers, the twenty-five (25) closest advertisers, each adver
`tiser in the same telephone exchange area as the user, each
`
`advertiser in the same area code (or area codes when there
`are one or more overlay area codes) as the user, each
`advertiser in the same local access and transport area
`(“LATA”) as the user, and so on. In an embodiment, the
`yellow-pages Service can also present the distance between
`the advertiser and the user.
`0024. After the yellow-pages service has presented
`advertisers having measured location information, the yel
`low-pages Service can present advertisers without measured
`location information. For example, the yellow pages Service
`can present each advertiser without measured location infor
`mation in the same telephone exchange area as the user, each
`advertiser in the same area code (or area codes when there
`are one or more overlay area codes) as the user, each
`advertiser in the Same LATA as the user, and So on. Each
`advertiser without measured location can also be presented
`at least in part alphabetically (e.g., alphabetically, each
`advertiser in the same telephone exchange area presented
`alphabetically, each advertiser in the same area code(s)
`presented alphabetically, etc.) or otherwise Sorted (e.g., by
`Street address, by Zip code, by phone number, by city or
`town, etc.).
`0025 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment
`of the present invention. System 100 includes a computer
`110 of a user. Computer 110 can include a processor 111
`coupled via bus 112 to network port 113 and memory 114.
`Processor 111 can be, for example, an Intel Pentium(R4
`processor, manufactured by Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif.
`AS another example, processor 111 can be an Application
`Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). An example of bus 112
`is a peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) local bus,
`which is a high performance bus for interconnecting chips
`(e.g., motherboard chips, mainboard chips, etc.), expansion
`boards, processor/memory Subsystems, and So on.
`0026 Network port 113 can be an Ethernet port, a serial
`port, a parallel port, a Universal Serial Bus (“USB") port, an
`Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
`(“IEEE”) 1394 port, a Small Computer Systems Interface
`(“SCSI) port, a Personal Computer Memory Card Interna
`tional Association (“PCMCIA') port, and so on. Memory
`114 of computer 110 can store a plurality of instructions
`configured to be executed by processor 111. Memory 114
`may be a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic RAM
`(DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a volatile memory, a
`non-volatile memory, a flash RAM, polymer ferroelectric
`RAM, Ovonics Unified Memory, magnetic RAM, a cache
`memory, a hard disk drive, a magnetic Storage device, an
`optical Storage device, a magneto-optical Storage device, or
`a combination thereof.
`0027) Computer 110 can be coupled to server 170 via
`network 150. Server 170 can be, for example, a Windows
`NT server from Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto,
`Calif., a UNIX server from Sun Microsystems, Inc. of Palo
`Alto, Calif., and so on. Server 170 can include a processor
`171 coupled via bus 172 to network port 173 and memory
`174. Examples of network 150 include a Wide Area Network
`(WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet, a
`wireleSS network, a wired network, a connection-oriented
`network, a packet network, an Internet Protocol (IP) net
`work, or a combination thereof.
`0028. As used to describe embodiments of the present
`invention, the term “coupled’ encompasses a direct connec
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 10 of 19
`
`
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`tion, an indirect connection, or a combination thereof. Two
`devices that are coupled can engage in direct communica
`tions, in indirect communications, or a combination thereof.
`Moreover, two devices that are coupled need not be in
`continuous communication, but can be in communication
`typically, periodically, intermittently, Sporadically, occasion
`ally, and So on.
`0029 Memory 114 of computer 110 can include web
`graphical user interface (“GUI”) instructions 115. In an
`embodiment, web GUI instructions 115 can be client-side
`web GUI instructions (e.g., a web browser) that can manage
`at least in part communications between computer 110 and
`server 170 (e.g., a worldwide web server, etc.). Examples of
`client-side web graphical user interface instructions include
`Internet Explorer 5.0 (or another version) from Microsoft
`Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Netscape Navigator 4.72
`(or another version) from Netscape Communications of
`Mountain View, Calif., and so on.
`0030 Memory 174 of server 170 can include location
`based yellow pages database access instructions 175, and
`server 170 can also include yellow pages database 180 and
`advertiser measured location information 181. Location
`based yellow pages database access instructions 175 can
`manage receiving location-based yellow pages Service que
`ries from computer 110 and presenting location-based yel
`low page Service information to computer 110. For example,
`computer 110 can be coupled to server 170 when the web
`GUI instructions 115 receive a Uniform ReSource Locator
`(“URL) corresponding to the location-based yellow pages
`Service from the user. In another embodiment, the user can
`select the URL (e.g., by selecting a “Favorite” of Internet
`Explorer, a “Bookmark” of Netscape Navigator, etc.).
`0031. The location-based yellow pages database access
`instructions 175 can determine whether the computer 110
`includes user measured location information 116 that iden
`tifies the measured location of the user and/or computer 110.
`For example, in an embodiment, the user measured location
`information 116 can be Stored, for example, in a cookie that
`web GUI instructions 115 can access. In other embodiments,
`the Stored user measured location information can be entered
`by the user, Stored after a network determines the user
`measured location information, and So on. When the com
`puter 110 includes user measured location information 116,
`the user measured location information 116 can be sent to
`server 170. In another embodiment, server 170 can prompt
`the user to enter measured location information when Such
`information is not already stored on computer 110 or
`received by server 170.
`0.032 Server 170 can receive a user selection of a cat
`egory (e.g., hardware, music, auto parts, etc.). For example,
`server 170 can present the user with a field for entering text
`of a category. AS another example, Server 170 can present
`the user with a drop-down list of categories, and the user can
`Select a category from the drop-down list. Other examples of
`ways by which a user can Select a category include prompt
`ing the user to enter a Search String, prompting the user to
`enter a key word, using partial text lookup, and So on. In an
`embodiment, after the server 170 has received the user
`entered category, the Server can return a category confirma
`tion response to the user to confirm the user's Selection of a
`category and/or allow the user to refine the category. For
`example, a category (e.g., auto parts, etc.) can include one or
`
`more Subcategories (e.g., new auto parts, used auto parts,
`etc.). The category confirmation response can allow the user
`to Select an appropriate refinement (e.g., a Subcategory) or
`enter a different category. In embodiment, the category
`confirmation response can include a list of Subcategories, a
`drop-down list of Subcategories, and So on.
`0033. After the user has selected and/or confirmed a
`category, server 170 can access yellow pages database 180
`and advertiser measured location information 181 to identify
`advertisers corresponding to the user category. In an
`embodiment, the yellow pages database 180 is an integrated
`database that includes the advertiser measured location
`information 181. In another embodiment, the advertiser
`measured location information 181 can be a database that is
`linked with the yellow pages database 181.
`0034). After server 170 has identified advertisers corre
`sponding to the user category and determined any associated
`distance information based at least in part on the measured
`location information, the identified advertisers and any
`determined associated location information can be presented
`to the user. For example, the server 170 can list the adver
`tisers for the Selected category in a distance order with the
`closest advertiser listed first, the next closest advertiser
`listed next, and So on. In an embodiment, only advertisers
`having associated measured location information are pre
`Sented to the user. In a further embodiment, the user can
`Specify whether any advertisers lacking measured location
`information are to be presented. In another embodiment,
`advertisers having measured location information are listed
`first followed by advertisers lacking measured location
`information.
`0035. The information presented to the user for each
`presented advertiser can vary based on the mode of acceSS
`to the location-based yellow pages Service. For example,
`when a user accesses the Service with computer 110, each
`presented advertiser can be presented with one or more
`fields of advertiser information Such as an advertiser name,
`logo, advertisement, address (e.g., Street, city, State and Zip
`code), phone number, fax number, e-mail address, network
`address (e.g., URL, etc.), and/or a map. The map can show
`the location of the advertiser. AS another example, the map
`can also show the location of the user. In a further embodi
`ment, the map can Show the location of more than one
`advertiser.
`0036) The user can select and activate (e.g., click) on a
`field of presented information to gain additional informa
`tion, initiate a communication, and So on. For example, the
`user could Select and activate the network address So that a
`web page associated with the advertiser is presented to the
`user (e.g., a web page with cost or product Stock informa
`tion, business hours, driving directions, etc.). AS another
`example, the user can Select and activate the phone number
`to initiate a telephone call (e.g., a Voice over Internet
`Protocol (“VoIP) to the advertiser. As a further example,
`Selecting and activating the e-mail address can cause an
`e-mail message window to be displayed So that the user can
`compose and Send an e-mail to the advertiser.
`0037 According to an embodiment of the present inven
`tion, an operator of the location-based yellow pages Service
`can realize revenue (e.g., additional revenue) by including
`the advertiser's measured location information as part of the
`location-based yellow pages Service. For example, each
`
`Google, Exhibit 1009
`IPR2022-00742
`Page 11 of 19
`
`
`
`US 2004/0260604 A1
`
`Dec. 23, 2004
`
`advertiser that has me