Cross-Application Search Routing Through Registered Guest Handlers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing applications restrict the scope of their search functions to their own domains when hosting guest applications, requiring users to switch contexts for searches across different application domains, leading to interrupted user experiences and inefficient resource usage.

Innovation Solution

A host application exposes a search handler to allow guest applications to register and manage their own search functions within the host's user interface, enabling seamless expansion of the search function across domains with user permission and interface management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the search function scope is limited to the host application domain, then the host application maintains control and simplicity, but the user experience is interrupted when searches across different application domains are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experience continuityVSAvoidsearch function architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The search handler enables the host application's search function to serve multiple domains by allowing guest applications to register their search capabilities. The same search interface and processing mechanism handles both host and guest application searches, making the search function universal across different application domains without requiring separate search systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The search handler acts as an intermediary layer between the search interface and the actual search execution. It receives search requests, determines whether to route them to the host application or a registered guest application, and manages the search scope dynamically. This mediator approach allows seamless cross-domain searches while maintaining architectural clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the search function scope is expanded to include guest application domains, then cross-domain searches become seamless, but the host application must manage additional complexity in search scope determination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch scope flexibilityVSAvoidsearch management logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The search scope is made dynamic rather than static. The search handler determines the search scope at runtime based on which application currently has focus. When a guest application has focus, searches automatically target that application's domain; when the host application has focus, searches target the host domain. This dynamic adaptation allows versatile search scope without requiring complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses focus state feedback to automatically determine search scope. The search handler continuously monitors which application has user focus and adjusts the search target accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the search function to adapt to the current context automatically, reducing the need for complex manual scope management while maintaining high versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If guest applications can register with the search handler, then the search function becomes more versatile, but the potential for unauthorized or malicious search behavior increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch function extensibilityVSAvoidsearch security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Guest applications must register with the search handler before they can receive search requests. This preliminary registration action allows the host application to verify and control which guest applications are permitted to handle searches. The registration process establishes a trusted relationship in advance, ensuring that only authorized applications can participate in the search function while maintaining system security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250321972A1Expanding the scope of a search function provided by a first application to a second application

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The techniques describe expanding a scope of a search to a domain associated with a guest application that is external to a domain associated with a host application. The host application receives a search query via a search field displayed in a first portion of a graphical user interface that is managed by the host application. The host application determines that the guest application is currently managing a second portion of the graphical user interface at a time when the search query is received. The host application determines that the guest application has registered with a search handler exposed by the host application to enable the domain associated with the guest application to be scoped for the search. The host application then passes the search query to the guest application, thereby enabling the guest application to render a search results page via the second portion of the graphical user interface.