Dynamic Crawler for Real-Time Entity Following
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search engines require users to proactively seek and subscribe to updates for entities of interest, limiting real-time following and focusing on data sources rather than entities themselves, which does not align with user intuition or behavior.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to designate entities to follow in real-time using a dynamic crawler, generating update feeds and notifications, and annotating trending entities within web content for easy identification and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users proactively subscribe to RSS feeds or create alerts for entities, then they can receive updated entity content, but the process is not intuitive and requires extra steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting entities mentioned in web content and pre-configuring follow options for users. When users hover over or interact with entity mentions, the system has already prepared the follow interface and options, eliminating the need for users to manually search for feed subscriptions or alert configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically identifying entities in content and presenting follow options directly to users without requiring them to navigate to separate subscription pages. The system serves itself by autonomously extracting entity information and configuring the following mechanism based on user interaction with the content.
2Reliability
If conventional search engines focus on data source locations, then they can organize information by topics or entities, but users must rely on search engine ranking to retrieve relevant data
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts entity mentions directly from web content and presents them as interactive elements to users. Instead of requiring users to navigate through search engine results and locate data sources, the system pulls out the essential entity information and delivers it directly at the point of user interest within the content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the user and the data source by intercepting entity mentions within content and mediating the follow request. Rather than directly connecting users to external RSS feeds or alert systems, the system provides a unified follow mechanism that handles the connection transparently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RSS systems limit users to single data sources per entity, then they can manage subscriptions, but users cannot follow multiple sources about the same entity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal follow mechanism that works across multiple data sources simultaneously. A single follow action enables users to subscribe to multiple sources about the same entity through one unified interface, eliminating the need for separate subscription management for each data source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple data source subscriptions into a single follow operation. Instead of requiring separate RSS feed subscriptions for each source, the system combines the subscription management functionality into one unified follow mechanism that handles multiple sources concurrently.
4Productivity
If alert systems are based on data-source subscription, then they can deliver updates, but they do not allow following entities in real time across multiple contexts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary entity detection and extraction from content before user interaction. When users express interest in an entity through hovering or clicking, the system has already identified the entity and prepared the follow configuration, enabling immediate real-time tracking without complex setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic entity following that adapts to user interactions with content. The follow mechanism is not static but dynamically activated based on user behavior, allowing real-time entity tracking across different contexts and content types without requiring pre-configuration of alert rules.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention outlines a genuine entity following system that also addresses data source limitation. When reviewing entity-related objects in web content, a web user designates one or more entities to follow in real time. More particularly, the present invention is directed through strategic deployment of a dynamic crawler upon selection of a “follow” pointer over an object in a web browser such that a web user can automatically designate entities to be followed and receive alerts at predetermined temporal intervals when new information regarding such designated entities becomes available. A web entity engine of the present invention is designed to discover trending entities at any given time while generating output activity (i.e., signal) streams for this entity.