External Result Provider Process for Unified Multi-Database Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience in accessing multiple databases through different search support systems, requiring separate logins and potentially leading to increased search response times.
Innovation Solution
A search support system that processes search requests by analyzing parameters, connecting to both local and external data sources, and utilizing an External Result Provider (ERP) process to establish communication with external data sources, allowing for real-time or delayed processing modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users access multiple databases through different search support systems, then each database can be searched efficiently, but users must perform separate logins and experience increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal search support system that can access multiple different databases through a single interface and authentication mechanism. The system maintains connections to multiple external databases and file systems, allowing users to search across all of them without needing separate logins for each database, thereby achieving multi-functionality and improving ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system connects to multiple external databases, then data accessibility is improved, but search response time may increase due to additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes and maintains pre-existing connections to multiple external databases and file systems before search requests are made. By having these connections ready in advance, the system eliminates the need to establish new connections for each search request, thereby reducing the time penalty associated with accessing multiple data sources while maintaining improved data accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If real-time search results are provided across multiple databases, then user convenience is improved, but processing load and response time may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search processing task into separate segments, with each segment handled by a dedicated process that searches a specific database or file system. This segmentation allows multiple searches to proceed in parallel without competing for the same processing resources, thereby maintaining real-time responsiveness and user convenience while preserving processing efficiency by avoiding centralized processing bottlenecks.
Data Source
AI summary
A search request received at a computer of a search support system is processed by analyzing the received search request to identify request parameters and connecting to a system index of the search support system that is referenced in the request parameters. An external result provider (ERP) process is initiated that establishes communication between the search support system and a data source external to the search support system, for a virtual index referenced in the request parameters. Thus, the ERP process provides an interface between the search support system and external data sources, such as by third parties. The ERP process can operate in a streaming mode (providing real-time search results with minimal processing) and/or a reporting mode (providing results with a greater delay and processing extent) and can switch between modes. The search request results are received from the connected system indexes and the referenced virtual indexes.