Collaborative Search Context Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines do not effectively facilitate collaborative searching among multiple users, limiting the ability to concurrently interact and refine search results based on shared queries and inputs in real-time, especially across different search contexts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for collaborative searching that allows multiple computing devices to participate in a shared search session, where query data from each device is aggregated or processed serially to generate a unified search result set, presented differently on each device according to selected search contexts, enabling users to branch searches and refine results in parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users independently submit search queries to existing search engines, then each user receives personalized search results based on their individual history and profile, but the users cannot concurrently interact and refine search results based on shared queries and inputs in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent search sessions into a single collaborative search session, allowing multiple users to simultaneously submit queries and interact with shared search results. The system combines individual user inputs (queries, filters, selections) into a unified search state that all participants can observe and modify in real-time, enabling collaborative refinement of results without requiring separate independent searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to collaborative searching by enabling real-time synchronization of search states across multiple users. Instead of static independent searches, the system creates a dynamic shared search space where changes made by any user are immediately reflected for all other users, allowing concurrent interaction and iterative refinement across time.
2Measurement precision
If search engines process and return individualized search results for each user, then personalization is achieved, but the system cannot effectively aggregate and process multiple users' query data to generate unified refined search results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collaborative search session manager as an intermediary component that receives query data from multiple users, aggregates and processes it according to configured rules (serial processing, aggregation, or branching), and generates unified refined search results. This mediator handles the complexity of combining multiple queries while maintaining precision by applying systematic processing methods and presenting results in context-relevant formats to each user.
3Productivity
If users perform separate searches independently, then each user maintains their own search context and history, but the ability to conduct collaborative research and analysis across different search contexts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collaborative search process into distinct operational modes (serial processing, aggregation, branching) that can be selected based on the collaborative goal. Each mode preserves different aspects of search context information: serial processing maintains sequential refinement, aggregation combines multiple perspectives, and branching allows parallel exploration of different query paths. This segmentation enables efficient collaborative research while preserving relevant context information through appropriate processing strategies.
Data Source
AI summary
A first user computing device is identified as being collocated with a second user computing device and an invitation is sent over a wireless communication channel for delivery to the first user computing device. The invitation invites the first user computing device to join a collaborative search session with the second user computing device. A first one of a plurality of search contexts is selected for use by the second user computing device within the collaborative search session. The first user computing device uses a second, different one of the plurality of search contexts during the collaborative search session, and presentations of search results within the collaborative search session are organized according to the first search context on the second user computing device and organized according to the second search context on the first user computing device.