Interactive Distance Graphics for Document Search Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search engines struggle to efficiently locate relevant information in large databases due to the complexity of textual data, often returning too much or too little information, as they are unable to handle the evolution of vocabulary and unique descriptors used by different groups, leading to ineffective searches.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a potential or distance function approach combined with graphics display of multi-node nets for human vision-based user interaction, allowing for the efficient removal of noise and isolation of desired features without extensive reading, and enabling correlation of document symbols with similar attributes across multiple nets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional search engines are used to search large databases, then the search process is automated, but the search results are either too much or too little information and lack precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visualization layer between the user and the database search results. This graphical interface acts as a mediator that transforms raw search data into visual representations, allowing users to interactively explore and refine search results without manually examining excessive text, thereby maintaining automation while improving precision through visual feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where search results are visually displayed and can be interactively refined. Users can observe the distribution of search results in the graphical interface and adjust their search criteria based on visual feedback, creating an iterative process that improves search precision while maintaining automation
2Ease of operation
If keyword-based searching is employed, then the search process is simple to operate, but it fails to find information that is 'close' or evolutionarily related
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional linear text-based search to a multi-dimensional graphical visualization of search results. This dimensional change allows users to perceive relationships and similarities between documents that keyword-based search misses, enabling the system to handle vocabulary evolution by visualizing semantic proximity rather than relying on exact keyword matches
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of search evaluation from exact keyword matching to visual proximity metrics in the graphical interface. By transforming search results into visual representations where distance and position convey relevance, the system maintains operational simplicity while gaining adaptability to handle evolving vocabularies and related concepts
3Quantity of substance
If the database size continues to expand, then more information is stored, but accessing and evaluating the information content becomes overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential information from large databases and presents it in a simplified visual format. By taking out only the relevant features and relationships and representing them graphically, the system allows users to evaluate information content without being overwhelmed by the full complexity of the underlying large database
Solution Approach 2:
The system projects high-dimensional database content into a lower-dimensional visual space that preserves key relationships. This dimensional transformation reduces the perceived complexity by presenting vast amounts of information in an intuitive graphical layout that users can navigate and evaluate efficiently
4Measurement precision
If users must read extensive textual material to evaluate search results, then thorough evaluation is possible, but user effort and time are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies or representations of search results that convey the essential information needed for evaluation without requiring users to read the full text. These graphical representations act as surrogates that maintain evaluation accuracy while dramatically reducing the time and effort users must invest
Data Source
AI summary
Method for carrying out the text content search of a document database utilizing multi-node nets. The nodes of these nets are associated with interactions and are loaded with initially selected criteria, whereupon a potential or distance function calculation is carried out with respect to each document of the database and those criteria containing nodes. The created nets are displayed with document symbols geometrically located with respect to the nodes and interaction lines in correspondence with the computed potentials to provide for an interactive visual evaluation of the search by the user. Such evaluations then may be employed to refine node contained criteria toward useful rule-based nodes.