Concept Hierarchy Interface for Document Search Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In document-centric information models, users face difficulties in navigating and searching through large volumes of documents due to the length and complexity, making it time-consuming to find pertinent information.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that enables navigation and search through a concept hierarchy, allowing users to intuitively process information by generating an interface that represents concepts and their relationships, enabling navigation, search, and modification, with the ability to view related documents, and automatically updating based on new or modified documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users search through documents using traditional document-centric search, then search queries can be executed on the document repository, but the search experience becomes difficult and time-consuming due to the length and volume of documents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch efficiencyVSAvoidtime to find pertinent information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a concept hierarchy as an intermediary layer between the document repository and the user interface. This concept hierarchy abstracts the vast document corpus into manageable concept nodes organized in a hierarchical structure, allowing users to navigate and search through concepts rather than directly through individual documents. The concept hierarchy acts as a mediator that translates user queries into concept-based navigation paths, significantly reducing the time and effort required to locate pertinent information in large document collections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the large document corpus into smaller, more manageable concept nodes organized in a hierarchical structure. By dividing the document repository into conceptual categories and subcategories, the system enables users to navigate through progressively refined concept levels rather than searching through all documents simultaneously. This segmentation transforms an overwhelming search task into a series of smaller, more manageable navigation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a concept hierarchy is introduced to improve navigation, then conceptual search becomes more intuitive, but the system complexity increases due to hierarchy generation and maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitiveness of information processingVSAvoidsystem complexity for hierarchy management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the concept hierarchy automatically generates and updates itself based on the document corpus without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously extracts concepts from documents, organizes them into hierarchical structures, and maintains the hierarchy as documents are added or modified. This self-service approach reduces the operational complexity of hierarchy management while preserving the intuitive benefits of concept-based navigation for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in the document corpus (such as adding new documents or modifying existing ones) to automatically trigger updates in the concept hierarchy. When documents are added or modified, the system dynamically adjusts the concept hierarchy parameters, including concept extraction, hierarchy restructuring, and node relationships. This automatic parameter adaptation maintains the concept hierarchy's relevance and accuracy without requiring manual reconfiguration, thereby reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the concept hierarchy is updated automatically when new documents are added, then the system remains current with the document corpus, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrency of concept hierarchy with document corpusVSAvoidprocessing time for hierarchy updates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by updating the concept hierarchy at scheduled intervals or based on triggers such as batch document additions, rather than continuously processing every single document addition in real-time. This periodic update mechanism allows the system to maintain currency with the document corpus while managing processing time and computational resources efficiently. The system can process multiple documents in batches during periodic updates, reducing the overall computational burden compared to continuous real-time updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8775426B2Interface to navigate and search a concept hierarchy
Publication Date: 2014.07.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US8775426B2 patent drawing
  • US8775426B2 patent drawing
  • US8775426B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method includes receiving a concept hierarchy at a computing device. The concept hierarchy identifies concepts associated with a document corpus. An interface based on the concept hierarchy is generated. The interface is operable to navigate, search, and modify the concept hierarchy. The method includes transmitting the interface for display to a display device.