Unified Search Indexing Across Apps for Faster Local Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices require starting multiple applications for local searches, leading to increased search time and power consumption due to individual application processing.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device constructs an index information file that includes field information from installed applications, allowing searches to be performed without activating each application, reducing search time and power consumption by utilizing an index file for unified searching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are started for local searches, then search coverage is improved, but search time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by constructing index information files during application installation or before search operations. The index file pre-organizes searchable content from multiple applications, so when a search is initiated, the system only needs to query the pre-built index rather than starting multiple applications and searching their content separately. This advance preparation significantly reduces search time while maintaining comprehensive search coverage across all installed applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are started for local searches, then search coverage is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The index information file is constructed in advance during application installation or maintenance operations, storing structured metadata about searchable content from multiple applications. During actual search operations, the system only needs to read and query this lightweight index file rather than activating multiple application processes. This preliminary organization of search data dramatically reduces the energy required for search operations while maintaining the ability to search across all applications.
3Reliability
If individual application processing is used, then application functionality is preserved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer - the index information file - that sits between the search application and the actual application content. The index file contains structured metadata (such as content identifiers, keywords, and pointers) that enables the search system to locate and retrieve content from multiple applications without needing to understand or activate the applications themselves. This intermediary structure simplifies the search process while preserving full application functionality, as applications remain independent and are only engaged when their content is actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a search method and an electronic device. The electronic device may record, in a unified manner, searchable content corresponding to each application into index information based on an index template. The index information may be stored in an index information file. Subsequently, after detecting input query content, the electronic device does not need to start a process in each application, but obtains the index information in the index information file, and then searches the index information based on the query content to obtain a search result. The search result may cover application content that matches the query content in each application. In this way, search time may be reduced and power consumption in the search may be reduced.