On-line geographical directory

Abstract

A method is provided for categorising businesses, organizations and individuals in order to facilitate geographically-based searching over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of (a) entering in a database the names of businesses, organizations and/or individuals; (b) for each name entry registering a geographical location identifier, the geographical location identifier indicating the precise geographical location at which the corresponding business, organization or individual is located; (c) for each name entry registering further information such as contact details and a description of the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual; and (d) for at least some of the name entries adding credential information in respect of the business, organization or individual, or the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual. A user interrogates the database by nominating a catchment area by reference to one or more geographical points to identify name entries within the catchment area nominated by the user.

1 . A method of categorising businesses, organizations and individuals in order to facilitate geographically-based searching over the Internet, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) entering in a database the names of businesses, organizations and/or individuals;    (b) for each name entry registering a geographical location identifier, the geographical location identifier indicating the precise geographical location at which the corresponding business, organization or individual is located;    (c) for each name entry registering further information such as contact details and a description of the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual;    (d) for at least some of the name entries adding credential information in respect of the business, organization or individual, or the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual;    wherein a user interrogates the database by nominating a catchment area by reference to one or more geographical points to identify name entries within the catchment area nominated by the user.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the credential information is added by another business, organisation or individual registered in the database.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a brand owner and the credential information indicates businesses, organisations and/or individuals that resell goods or services under the brand.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit card provider and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that accept the credit card associated with the credit card provider  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a professional or industrial organisation and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that are members of the professional or industrial organisation.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit reference agency and the credential information includes financial data pertaining to other registered businesses, organizations and/or individuals.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the credential information is only accessible through the website of the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user pays to access the credential information.  
   
   
       9 . An Internet site for facilitating geographically-based searching over the Internet, comprising: 
 (a) a database having a plurality of name entries corresponding to the names of businesses, organizations and/or individuals, each name entry having a geographical identifier indicating the precise geographical location at which the business, organization or individual is located, each name entry further being associated with additional information such as contact details and a description of the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual;    (b) a credential input component to enable one registered business, organisation or individual to add credential information in respect of one or more other registered businesses, organizations or individuals, or the goods or services offered by the businesses, organizations or individuals; and    (c) a search catchment area nominating component whereby a user nominates a search catchment area by reference to one or more geographical points to search the database to identify name entries associated with businesses, organisations or individuals located within the search catchment area nominated.    
   
   
       10 . An Internet site according to  claim 9 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a brand owner and the credential information indicates businesses, organisations and/or individuals that resell goods or services under the brand.  
   
   
       11 . An Internet site according to  claim 9 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit card provider and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that accept the credit card associated with the credit card provider  
   
   
       12 . An Internet site according to  claim 9 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a professional or industrial organisation and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that are members of the professional or industrial organisation.  
   
   
       13 . An Internet site according to  claim 9 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit reference agency and the credential information includes financial data pertaining to one or more other registered businesses, organizations and/or individuals.  
   
   
       14 . A system for facilitating geographically based searching for businesses, organizations and individuals over the Internet, the system comprising: 
 (a) a database having a plurality of name entries corresponding to the names of businesses, organizations and/or individuals;    (b) a geographical identifier input component for entering a geographical location identifier for each name entry indicating the precise geographical location at which the business, organization or individual is located;    (c) a data input component for entering information such as contact details and a description of the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual for each name entry;    (d) a credential input component to enable one registered business, organisation or individual to add credential information in respect of another registered business, organization or individual, or the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual;    (e) a search catchment area nominating component whereby a user nominates a search catchment area by reference to one or more geographical points to search the database to identify name entries associated with businesses, organisations or individuals located within the search catchment area nominated.    
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a brand owner and the credential information indicates businesses, organisations and/or individuals that resell goods or services under the brand.  
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit card provider and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that accept the credit card associated with the credit card provider  
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a professional or industrial organisation and the credential information indicates businesses, organizations and/or individuals that are members of the professional or industrial organisation.  
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the business, organisation or individual that added the credential information is a credit reference agency and the credential information includes financial data pertaining to one or more other registered businesses, organizations and/or individuals.