Guided Navigation Across Heterogeneous Search Results
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search engines fail to provide guided navigation across different object types in a result list, making it difficult for users to refine searches effectively when dealing with diverse information sources such as structured and unstructured data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that normalize result objects based on metadata associated with generic attributes, allowing for guided navigation across various object types by creating a metadata database that maps generic attributes to individual attributes, enabling refinement of search results across different object types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional search engines provide guided navigation for single object type, then navigation precision is improved, but versatility across different object types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a metadata framework that can describe multiple different object types using a common set of generic attributes. The metadata database stores mappings between generic attributes and object-specific attributes, allowing the same navigation mechanism to work across diverse object types (documents, database records, images, etc.) without requiring type-specific navigation logic for each object type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses metadata as an intermediary layer between the search results and the user interface. The metadata acts as a mediator that translates different object types into a unified representation based on generic attributes, enabling the guided navigation system to present consistent navigation options across all object types while preserving the specific characteristics of each type through the metadata mappings.
2Quantity of substance
If search results include multiple object types, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different navigation options to be presented based on the specific object types in the results. While the overall framework is unified, the system can adapt the navigation interface to highlight relevant attributes and navigation options specific to each object type, making the operation easier by presenting only the most relevant navigation paths for the given result set.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the navigation process into two levels: a high-level generic attribute navigation (providing overview across all object types) and a low-level object-specific attribute navigation (providing detailed refinement for specific types). This segmentation allows users to navigate at the appropriate level of detail based on their needs, maintaining ease of operation while preserving information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing guided navigation across different types of result objects. The methods and systems may receive a search request and generate a search result based on the search request, the search result including result objects of different object types. Further, the methods and systems may normalize the result objects based on metadata associated with generic attributes related to each object type. Based on the normalization, guided navigation results are generated across the different object types of the result objects. Further, the methods and systems may create a metadata database by defining object types for result objects that are generated in response to a search request and defining generic attributes corresponding to the object types. The generic attributes reflect attributes that apply to all object types. The database is generated based on the defined object types and generic attributes, and includes metadata used to provide guided navigation across different types of the result objects.