Google Phone patent: Faster searching using multiple sessions
March 22, 2007
Google has filed a patent application describing a method of using multiple sessions to make searching for information via mobile phone much faster than the current system.
The Overloaded Communication Session patent application was filed on 21st July 2006 and published on 1st February 2007. The document discusses how mobile devices can connect to the internet and retrieve documents and search results. The patent is quite complex but in general Google appears to be patenting a method of using more than one connection to return search results. For instance a user could see the first 5 results from one session and the second 5 results from a second session.
If Google decides to create a phone then search will be integrated into a lot of the applications and speedy information retrieval will be essential. Google has always made sure their internet search pages work as fast as possible and will want to do the same on any mobile applications they create.
Abstract:
A method of providing information responsive to a request from a wireless communication device involves receiving an information request from a mobile device and generating responsive information for the information request, transmitting a first portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a first communication session, and transmitting a second portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a second, overloaded communication session.
Summary & Implementation:
In one implementation, a selection of a result element may be received in response to display of the first set of results or the second set of results, and transmitting a text message in response to the selection. Also, a selection of a result element may be received in response to display of the first set of results or the second set of results, and a web page request in response to the selection. The receiving of the the first set of results and receiving the second set of results may also be performed by separate execution threads on the mobile communication device.
In other implementations, the first set of results and the second set of results may relate to multiple different search types. The multiple search types may be selected from a group consisting of advertisements, images, web pages, maps, news, geographically specified (local) content, shopping, weather, and content resident on the mobile device. Also, the multiple search types may be displayed as display elements categorized by search type, and each category may be displayed separately. One search type may also be displayed with another search type.
In addition, navigation between the multiple search types may include horizontal navigation. Search requests for the multiple different search types may also be generated in response to entry by a user through one entry point in a user interface. In yet another implementation, a computer program product containing executable instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform certain operations is disclosed. Those operations include overloading a connection between a mobile device and a server, wherein the overloading comprises transmitting a search request from the mobile device to the server, receiving at the mobile device from the server a first set of results associated with the search request, and receiving at the mobile device from the server a second set of results associated with the search request.
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