Cross-Application Search Engine for Mobile Information Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the mobile Internet era, traditional web crawling search technologies are ineffective due to information isolation among mobile applications, preventing users from accessing page contents from multiple applications simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for searching information across applications by determining target applications with declaration information, sending search keywords, receiving search results, and generating a ranked display list that includes source application information and page paths, utilizing historical parameter information to rank results based on user interaction metrics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional web crawling search technology is used, then search services can be provided for webpages, but it becomes unusable for searching mobile application contents due to information isolation among applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch capabilityVSAvoidsearch effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the search system into multiple independent components: a search engine that receives user queries, multiple target applications that independently process searches, and a result aggregation layer. Each application maintains its own search capabilities while contributing to a unified search experience, breaking the information isolation barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a search engine as an intermediary component that mediates between users and multiple isolated applications. The search engine receives user queries, distributes them to relevant applications, collects results, and presents unified search results to users, enabling cross-application search without requiring applications to directly communicate with each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If search results from multiple applications are integrated, then comprehensive search results are provided, but the system complexity increases due to need for result aggregation and ranking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges search results from multiple different applications into a single unified search display list. The search engine aggregates results from various applications, standardizes their formats, and presents them together in a consistent interface, allowing users to access comprehensive information from multiple applications through one search operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation of search results by introducing a unified ranking mechanism that converts diverse application-specific results into a standardized format. Results are ranked based on relevance parameters, and the display list presents transformed result data with consistent structure, making complex multi-application results manageable and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If applications maintain isolation for independent operation, then each application can function autonomously, but users cannot access information from multiple applications simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication autonomyVSAvoidinformation accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the search engine universal by enabling it to interface with multiple different applications simultaneously. The search engine performs multiple functions: receiving queries, routing to various applications, aggregating results, and presenting unified output. This universal search capability allows users to access information from multiple applications through a single interface without compromising application autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11403346B2Method and device for searching for information in applications
Publication Date: 2022.08.02 SHANGHAI ZHANGMEN TECH
  • US11403346B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and device for searching for information in applications. The method comprises: determining at least one target application carrying declaration information, wherein the declaration information comprises search interface information for searching the target application (S11); sending a search keyword from a user to the target application via the search interface information for the target application (S12); receiving search result information determined by the target application according to the search keyword, wherein the search result information comprises the search keyword and page paths of target pages (S13); and generating a search display list according to the search result information. Thus search results from different applications can be summarized, and information isolation among applications can be broken. Information in applications can be obtained via the search interfaces, which can realize real-time search and enrich contents of search.