Graphical Search Interface for Composite Document Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search interfaces remain text-based, limiting their ability to handle complex search queries and failing to provide intuitive methods for specifying search parameters beyond image searches, making it difficult to retrieve digital documents with specific internal structures.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface using a display device and pointing device, where users can input search parameters by defining sub-areas and associating them with system output component categories, generating search data that can be submitted to a search system, allowing for symbolic representation of search queries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If text-based search interfaces are used, then the interface is simple to implement, but the ability to handle complex search queries and specify search parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from text-based one-dimensional search to graphical two-dimensional mapping interfaces, where users can visually define search regions and parameters on a displayed map. This dimensional change enables complex spatial queries while maintaining intuitive interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a graphical mapping interface as an intermediary between the user and the search system. This intermediary translates user-friendly graphical selections into structured search queries, enabling complex searches without requiring users to understand underlying query structures.
2Ease of operation
If graphical user interfaces are used for selecting from predetermined lists, then the interface provides visual interaction, but the method is still limited in specifying custom search parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The search interface is segmented into multiple selectable regions on the displayed map, each representing different search parameters or criteria. Users can independently configure each region, enabling custom search parameter specification while maintaining visual interaction through point-and-click operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If image search interfaces are used, then users can sketch desired images, but the method is limited to image searches and cannot be applied to other search types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal graphical mapping interface that can handle multiple search types beyond image searches. The same interface framework supports different query types by interpreting graphical selections differently, making the system multi-functional without requiring separate specialized interfaces for each search type.
Data Source
AI summary
A search system interface is described. Known search system interfaces are largely unable to find composite articles on the basis of a description of the distribution of content types within them. A problem with providing such a search interface is the laboriousness of generating a suitable query. To address this problem, a display is provided with a key showing content types and associated map symbols. Also provided on the display is a search mapping area, which takes advantage of the fact that parts of text documents, and many other types of searchable items, can be referenced by one or more ordinal values, by having an easily perceivable relationship between position in the search mapping area and position within a target document. By operating the device to offer a digital painting interface such that the user can paint parts of the search mapping area in a visual style associated with the content type the user hopes to find in the corresponding part of the text document, the user is able to rapidly and intuitively provide the search system with a description of how content types would be distributed in documents he wishes to find. The search system interface can similarly be used to specify a desired composition of articles belonging to different categories over a period of time.