Database Facet Search with Modifier Records
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users often lack the knowledge to accurately select appropriate parameters for facet searches, leading to imperfect refinement of search results in facet searching systems, as they may not understand how attributes like bed length and width for pickup trucks or refrigerator clearance relate to specific search criteria.
Innovation Solution
The system maintains facet modifier records associated with item records, which translate user input into appropriate facet search parameters by using linking data and alteration data to modify input values, ensuring relevant records are retrieved based on the user's intent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users perform facet searches using their own knowledge, then they can conduct searches independently, but the search results lack precision because users cannot accurately identify appropriate parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of facet suggestion modules and parameter translation mechanisms that mediate between user intent and database parameters. These intermediaries automatically suggest relevant facets and translate user inputs into appropriate search parameters, resolving the contradiction by providing precise results without requiring users to have expert knowledge of the database schema
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automatic facet suggestion and parameter selection based on the found records. The system autonomously analyzes the search results and presents relevant facets to users, allowing them to refine searches without needing to understand the underlying data structure or parameter meanings, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving precision
2Measurement precision
If the system provides detailed parameter options for facet searching, then search precision improves, but the complexity of the search interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the search interface by dynamically presenting only the facets and parameters relevant to the current search context. Instead of displaying all possible parameters at once, the system divides the parameter space into context-relevant subsets based on the found records, reducing interface complexity while maintaining the ability to provide precise search options when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The search interface is made dynamic by automatically adapting the displayed facets and parameters based on the search results. The system adjusts the complexity of the interface in real-time, showing detailed parameter options only when relevant to the current context, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing comprehensive search options and maintaining interface simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are presented that utilize facet modifications to alter user input values to perform a facet search on a found set of data records. The facet modifications are associated with item records, such as by using type attributes. Facet modifications can be associated with query information that is utilized to create a query on a user interface. Input received from the query is then modified according to the facet modifier in order to create facet search parameters. The facet search parameters are used to perform a facet search to narrow the found set of item records. In some embodiments, facet modifications are stored in facet modifier records. Multiple facet modifications can be stored in a single facet modifier record. A single query input can be manipulated by multiple facet modifications to create separate facet search parameters.