Google gets patent for integrating local contact information with search results.
Google has been awarded U.S. patent 7624101 for “Enhanced Search Results”. The enhancements are related to Google’s local search capabilities, including returning a result for a business that includes a phone number, address, and map. You’ve probably seen these search results at the top of a Google results page:
The patent describes a system that captures phone and address information from the target web site and displays it in the search results. A couple embodiments include accessing the domain name whois database to retrieve the information. In one embodiment, the whois record’s address and phone number may be used to verify the information on the target web site. In another, the whois record may be the sole source of address and phone number information.
The full patent image is not yet available, but the text is available here.
John Berryhill says
Interesting timing.
United States Patent 7,620,725
King , et al.
November 17, 2009
Metadata collection within a trusted relationship to increase search relevance
Abstract
A system and method for collecting internet publisher data is disclosed in which metadata pertaining to the internet publisher is acquired in the context of a trusted relationship with the internet publisher to increase reliability of metadata utilized in the presentation of internet search engine results. In a preferred embodiment, metadata collected by an internet domain registrar incident to registration of an internet domain name is included among metadata acquired in the trusted relationship.
Inventors: King; Raymond (Portland, OR), Stahura; Paul (Sammamish, WA), Westerdal; Jay (Bellevue, WA)
Assignee: About Us, Inc. (Bellevue, WA)
Appl. No.: 11/294,002
Filed: December 5, 2005
Andrew Allemann says
John, I’d seen that application back in the day…quite a mess of characters on that one. Paul was at eNom when filed, Jay was at NI, which was acquired by TCI, and Ray had left Snap. Now that it’s approved, will be interesting to see…
Adam says
Can the whois be used in this manner ?
Domain Investor says
Did Godaddy apply for a patent to do the same thing?
Sociale says
GoogleMap is one of the best Google’s tools.
Getting this patent is surely a good news for the user’s community.
Kymia says
Google Map is a relevant tool. However, some improvements are needed for african countries.