Document Search Index Covering Structure for Location Constraints

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document search systems in structured repositories face inefficiencies in locating documents based on specific location constraints, leading to increased computational load and reduced search performance due to the need for extensive file system operations.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a document search index with a covering index structure, where each index entry includes a document identifier, indexing terms, and a document location, allowing for efficient document location verification by directly accessing the document's location without scanning the repository, and a descendant filter to enforce location constraints during searches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional document search methods are used in structured repositories, then documents can be located, but extensive file system operations are required leading to increased computational load and reduced search performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch performanceVSAvoidcomputational load

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing document location information in a covering index structure before searches are executed. The index is built in advance with document identifiers, indexing terms, and location metadata, so that during search operations, the system can directly retrieve pre-processed location data without performing extensive file system operations at search time. This resolves the contradiction by shifting computational load from search time to index construction time, improving search performance while managing overall computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a covering index as an intermediary data structure between the document repository and the search query processor. This index contains pre-computed location information that mediates between the full document repository and the search algorithm, eliminating the need for direct file system scanning during searches. The intermediary index structure resolves the contradiction by providing O(1) location lookup instead of O(n) file system operations, thereby improving search performance without proportionally increasing computational load during search execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If document location verification is performed by scanning the repository, then accurate location confirmation is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and reduces search efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation verification accuracyVSAvoidsearch time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing document location information in a covering index structure before searches are executed. The index is built in advance with document identifiers, indexing terms, and location metadata, so that during search operations, the system can directly retrieve pre-processed location data without performing extensive file system operations at search time. This resolves the contradiction by shifting computational load from search time to index construction time, improving search performance while managing overall computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the document repository's location structure in the form of a covering index. This index copy contains all necessary location information in a pre-processed format that can be queried efficiently without accessing the actual file system. By working with this copied location data instead of scanning the real repository, the system achieves accurate location verification in constant time rather than linear time, resolving the contradiction between verification accuracy and search time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Speed

If a covering index with location information is used, then document retrieval speed is improved, but the index structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument retrieval speedVSAvoidindex structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the index into a covering index structure that separates location information from document content. The covering index is further segmented into entries that contain document identifiers, indexing terms, and location metadata as distinct components. This segmentation allows the system to retrieve location information independently and efficiently without processing entire documents, improving retrieval speed while organizing complexity into manageable, purpose-specific segments rather than a monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10713305B1Method and system for document search in structured document repositories

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A method for document search in a structured document repository. The method includes obtaining a document search query from a client, obtaining location constraints for documents to be identified in a structured document repository based on the document search query, identifying, in a document search index associated with the structured document repository, a document that matches the search query and the location constraints, and providing information associated with the identified document to the client.