Method and system for providing geographically targeted information and advertising

Abstract

A system and method of providing information based on the location of the target. The system is ideal for use with voice based technology, and uses street segments to allow users to identify their location by cross street. The system can target advertisements to users based on the location of the user, a destination location related to the information requested by the user and/or the route to be taken by the user to reach such destination location.

1 . A method of providing information to an information requestor, the information requestor located at first location, comprising the steps of:
 (a) an information source receiving a request for a business associated with a second location different from said first location, from the information requestor;   (b) said information source obtaining an utterance from said information requestor, said utterance identifying said business and a location reference associated with said second location;   (c) using a voice recognition system to identify said business and location reference from said utterance by comparing said utterance to a grammar of street names and a grammar of businesses;   (d) associating said location reference with one or more street segments within a group of street segments, each of said street segments representing a block;   (e) determining a listing of said business by locating an address for said business associated with one of said street segments within said group; and   (f) said information source providing said listing to said information requestor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an advertisement is provided to said information requestor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said information source receives said request and provides said listing via phone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said location reference also includes a second street that crosses said first street. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said business requested is a business within a type of business. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said advertisement is provided based on the location reference of the information requestor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said advertisement is provided based on said second location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said information provided is provided to personal information management system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, before step (a): providing a database of street segments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said group is a municipal territory. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said group is a street. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said group is segments grouped by said information requestor. 
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 1  wherein said group is segments grouped by an advertiser. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said advertisement is provided to said information requestor is further based on a time and the business requested. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a route is requested and provided based on said location reference. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said route is selected based on the location of an advertiser. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing information to an information requestor, the information requestor located at first location, comprising the steps of:
 (a) an information source receiving a request for a business associated with a second location different from said first location, from the information requestor;   (b) said information source obtaining first and second utterances from said information requestor, said first utterance identifying said business and said second utterance identifying a location reference associated with said second location;   (c) using a voice recognition system to identify said business and location reference from said first and second utterances by comparing said second utterance to a grammar of locations and said first utterance to a grammar of businesses;   (d) associating said location reference with one or more street segments within a group of street segments, each of said street segments representing a block;   (e) determining a listing of said business by locating an address for said business associated with one of said street segments within said group; and   (f) said information source providing said listing to said information requestor.