Group-Aware Prefix Index for Document Search Auto-Completion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in cloud-based document sharing systems is the difficulty in locating specific content items due to the lack of effective information discovery and retrieval processes, especially as user libraries grow and access control complexities increase, affecting search and retrieval efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A document sharing system that provides suggested queries based on text extracted from documents, using a prefix index that honors group-based access control restrictions, allowing users to input search queries and receive relevant suggestions while ensuring access rights are maintained through user and group identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cloud storage services are made widely accessible and user libraries are allowed to grow, then storage capacity and user accessibility are improved, but search and retrieval efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidsearch and retrieval efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by extracting text from documents and pre-computing prefix indices before search operations. The prefix index pre-processes document content into searchable prefixes, enabling efficient autocomplete suggestions without requiring full document scans during user searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simplified copy of document content in the form of text extracts and prefix indices. Instead of searching through complete documents, the system works with copied textual representations that retain searchability while reducing complexity and improving retrieval speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If document sharing amongst user groups is facilitated, then collaboration and accessibility are improved, but access control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument sharing capabilityVSAvoidaccess control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments access control by maintaining separate prefix index entries for different user groups. Each group receives customized autocomplete suggestions based on their specific access permissions, allowing fine-grained control over what content is visible to each group without requiring complex centralized authorization logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by customizing the search experience for each user group based on their access rights. Different groups see different autocomplete suggestions tailored to their permitted document sets, making the access control mechanism context-specific rather than universally applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If group-based access control restrictions are enforced on search results, then data security is improved, but search functionality is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidsearch functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtering of autocomplete suggestions based on user group access rights before presenting results to users. By pre-filtering the candidate suggestions according to security policies, the system maintains data security while presenting a seamless search experience that naturally respects access constraints without requiring post-processing or user awareness of restrictions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10474719B2Auto-completion of widely shared search queries
Publication Date: 2019.11.12 GOOGLE LLC
  • US10474719B2 patent drawing
  • US10474719B2 patent drawing
  • US10474719B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage medium, for facilitating auto-completion of search queries in a group based document sharing environment. In one aspect, a method includes actions of maintaining a prefix index that includes prefix index entries. Each prefix index entry may include a prefix, a group identifier, and a portion of a document. Additional actions may include receiving input from a user that is associated with a search field, determining a user identifier associated with the user that submitted the received input, mapping the user identifier to a particular group identifier, obtaining one or multiple candidate query suggestions based on the received input and the prefix index, and selecting a subset of the candidate query suggestions based on the particular group identifier. Other actions may include providing the subset of candidate query suggestions to the user.