Nuance Communications, Inc.

John R Watson

Marc W Regan

Ryan S LaSante

Sean P Brown

Vladimir Sejnoha

Gunnar Evermann

Stephen W Laverty

Jeremy A Slater

Peter K Lyons

Michael Leong

Carmit Brikman

Some embodiments relate to techniques for receiving a query from a device, the query comprising content; determining based at least in part on the content of the query that an application is to be launched on the device; and causing the device to launch the application using at least some information determined from the content of the query. Some embodiments relate to techniques for receiving a free-form query from a user; transferring a representation of the query to at least one computer; and receiving from the at least one computer at least one instruction to launch an application on the device.

Methods and apparatus for initiating an action

Some embodiments relate to techniques for performing a search for content, in which a user may issue a search query, and the search engine or engines to which that query is provided may be determined dynamically based on any of a variety of factors. For example, in some embodiments, the search engine or engines to which the query is provided may be determined based on the content of the search query, and/or auxiliary information such as the user's location, demographics, query history and/or browsing history.

Methods and apparatus for identifying and providing information sought by a user

Some embodiments relate to techniques for receiving a query from a device and location data indicating a location of the device, the location data having a level of specificity; in response to the query being received, identifying at least one first search engine to which to submit a representation of the query; determining whether the level of specificity of the received location data is sufficient for the at least one first search engine; if the level of specificity of the location data is sufficient, instructing the device to issue the representation of the query to the at least one first search engine; and if the level of specificity of the location data is not sufficient, instructing the device to send, to the at least one computer, location data at a greater level of specificity.

Methods and apparatus for employing a user's location in providing information to the user

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Boston, MA, United States of America

John R Watson