Query Completion Based on Location

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that return query completions are provided. A user of a computing device like a mobile phone may enter a prefix. In turn, the prefix and location information associated with the device are transmitted to a server device. The server device receives the prefix and location information. The prefix and the location information are matched with names and locations of entities stored in a database connected to the server device. The server device transmits query completion data to the mobile device. The query completion data includes one or more names that complete the received prefix. The names provided by the server device may be associated with entities that are within a threshold radius of the location information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-readable media storing executable instructions for performing a method of providing query completion, the method comprising:
 receiving a prefix and location information;   matching the prefix and the location information with names and locations of entities stored in a database; and   returning query completion data that include one or more names that complete the received prefix, wherein the names are associated with entities that are within a radius of the location information.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the query completion data to a user that provided the prefix.   
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 1 , wherein the entities are stored in a trie. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 3 , wherein the trie includes entity names associated with the received prefix. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method to provide query completions, the method comprising:
 receiving a prefix and location information;   matching the location and prefix with names and locations of entities stored in a database;   receiving a count of the matches to the location and prefix;   determining whether the count is within a predetermined range;   if the count is above the predetermined range, reducing the count by reducing a radius utilized to identify the matches to the location;   if the count is below the predetermined range, increasing the count by increasing a radius utilized to identify the matches to the location;   ranking the matches when the count is within the predetermined range; and   returning the name of the entities that include the prefix based on the rank.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the rank is based on popularity of the entities. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the rank is based on query log frequencies for the names of the entities. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the rank is based on distances a user that provided the prefix is currently from the entities. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein 8 entities with the highest ranks are returned as query completion for the prefix. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the 8 entities are transmitted to a user. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein 8 entities include entities supplemented from a popularity trie. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the entities are stored in a trie. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the trie includes names for entities that match the prefix. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined range is between 50 and 51. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined range is between 10 and 20. 
     
     
         16 . A server device configured to provide query completions, the server device comprising:
 one or more processors configured to receive a prefix and a location; and   one or more storage locations configured to store entities in multiple levels based on location, wherein the entities are stored in tries that return matching entities to the prefix to the one or more processors for ranking based on popularity and distance from a user that provides the prefix and the location.   
     
     
         17 . The server device of  claim 16 , wherein the prefix and location are received from a mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The server device of  claim 16 , wherein the locations of the entities that match the prefix are transmitted to the user 
     
     
         19 . The server device of  claim 16 , wherein the names of the entities transmitted to the user are partial matches to the prefix received from the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The server device of  claim 19 , wherein the query completions comprise the name and contact information of the matching entities within a radius of the current location of the mobile device.