Client Search Request Automation for Web Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiencies in searching web sites due to the need to navigate through home pages, enter valid URIs, and handle errors like 'document not found' without guidance, leading to delays and frustration, especially over slow connections.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to initiate searches by entering data into a client computer, identifying and generating an HTTP search request with a stored server URL and search term, enabling searches within specified server data processing apparatus without requiring a search form or valid URI, and handling errors by generating search requests based on meta data and error conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users navigate through home pages and search forms to initiate searches, then search functionality is available, but user interaction time and page loading delays increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating search requests with properly formatted URIs before user submission. The client computer pre-processes user input by constructing valid HTTP search requests with encoded search terms and appropriate URL structures, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through multiple pages and forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential search initiation function from the complex multi-page navigation process. By taking out the core functionality of submitting search terms directly to the search engine, the system bypasses unnecessary intermediate steps such as loading home pages, finding search forms, and manually constructing URIs, thereby reducing interaction time while maintaining search capability.
2Reliability
If users manually construct and submit search requests with valid URIs, then search accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The client computer performs self-service by automatically constructing valid HTTP search requests with properly encoded URIs. The system autonomously handles URI encoding, search term formatting, and request generation without requiring user intervention in these complex technical processes, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing the perceived complexity for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary processing layer between user input and the search engine. This intermediary automatically validates and formats search requests, encoding search terms into valid URI components and constructing proper HTTP requests. This mediator ensures search request validity while shielding users from the complexity of manual URI construction and protocol compliance.
3Loss of information
If conventional error handling is used for 'document not found' errors, then error information is provided, but user guidance and search recovery options are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring search engine responses and detecting error conditions such as 'document not found' errors. When errors occur, the client computer automatically analyzes the error information, extracts relevant search terms, and generates alternative search requests with modified URIs or encoded terms, providing continuous feedback loops that guide users toward successful search results.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary error handling actions by automatically generating alternative search requests before the user needs to take action. Upon detecting an error, the system pre-processes recovery options by constructing new search requests with different URI formats or encoded search terms, ready for immediate submission, thereby eliminating the need for users to manually troubleshoot or retry searches.
Data Source
AI summary
System, method and computer program for initiating a search at a server computer. A data base including a URL of the server computer is stored at a client computer. Information entered by a user into the client computer is received. From the information, a search term and the URL of the server computer are identified. Then, an HTTP search request which includes the URL of the server computer and the search term is generated. Then, the HTTP search request is sent to the server computer. The identifying of the URL of the server computer comprises searching the data base for a character string contained in the information that matches the URL of the server computer. The identifying of the search term comprises identifying a portion of the information appended to the URL of the server. The identifying of the search term also comprises omitting from the portion one or more symbols adjacent to the search term which are inconsistent with a search request using HTTP. The generating of the HTTP search request which combines the URL of the server computer and the search term comprises inserting adjacent to the search term one or more symbols consistent with a search request using HTTP.