Federated Search Ranking with Deep Link Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search technologies fail to effectively index and utilize deep links, leading to suboptimal query results and user experience, as they do not efficiently integrate native applications and rank results based on proximity scoring.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that index deep links in a search index, allowing devices to launch native applications and rank query results using an order-based quadratic proximity function, and perform federated query result ranking across multiple search domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deep links are indexed in the search index, then query results can launch native applications directly, but the search system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the search system into multiple independent components: a deep link index separate from the main search index, a deep link detector that identifies deep links in crawled content, and a result launcher that handles deep link execution. This segmentation allows the system to add deep link functionality without fundamentally restructuring the entire search system, thereby improving ease of operation while managing complexity through modular design.
2Measurement precision
If query results are ranked using proximity scoring functions, then result relevance improves, but computational processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies proximity scoring selectively rather than uniformly to all query results. The system identifies deep link results and applies enhanced proximity scoring only to these specific results, while using standard ranking for other results. This partial application of the computationally intensive proximity scoring function maintains high result relevance for deep link queries without unnecessarily increasing processing time for all search operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple search domains are integrated in federated search, then search coverage increases, but result ranking difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a federated search coordinator as an intermediary component that manages multiple search domains. This coordinator receives queries, distributes them to appropriate search domains (web search, native application search, local file search), collects results, and applies unified ranking logic. The intermediary abstracts the complexity of multi-domain integration, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive search coverage while managing result ranking difficulty through centralized coordination rather than requiring complex point-to-point integration between all domains.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of a device that ranks a plurality of query results from a plurality of search domains is described. In this embodiment, the device receives a query from a client. In addition, the device applies the query to the plurality of search domains and a broad-base search domain. Furthermore, the device receives the plurality of query results from the plurality of search domains and a set of broad-base query results from the broad-base search domain. The device additionally ranks the plurality of query results using the set of broad-base query results and returns a ranked plurality of query results to the client.