Meta Index Synchronization for Distributed Mobile Search Servers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile search technologies face challenges such as difficulty in data information collection and maintenance, server computation bottlenecks in centralized systems, and scattered search engines in decentralized systems, which hinder uniform control and efficient search operations.

Innovation Solution

A mobile search method and system that allows for the uniform control of member search engines by using a meta index to select and manage search engines across multiple servers, reducing computation burden and improving search accuracy through meta index synchronization and collaboration between search servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized mobile search engine is used, then search capability is centralized and coordinated, but server computation processing becomes a bottleneck and data information collection and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch capability coordinationVSAvoidserver computation processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized search system into multiple search servers, each maintaining its own Web page database and search engine. This distributes the computation burden across multiple servers while maintaining coordinated search capability through the meta-index synchronization mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a meta-index as an intermediary layer between users and multiple search servers. The meta-index stores mapping relationships between keywords and member search engines, enabling coordinated search across distributed servers without requiring direct centralized processing of all search queries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a decentralized mobile search engine is used, then data storage is decentralized, but member search engines become scattered and cannot be uniformly controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage distributionVSAvoiduniform control of search engines
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control mechanism where each search server can both independently store data locally and participate in the unified meta-index system. The meta-index synchronization protocol enables each server to maintain its own database while simultaneously being part of the coordinated decentralized network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism through meta-index synchronization between search servers. Each server reports its keyword-engine mappings to others, and receives updates from them, enabling uniform control across the decentralized system through continuous information exchange and coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If meta index synchronization is implemented between search servers, then uniform control of member search engines is achieved, but communication overhead between servers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform control capabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial synchronization by having each search server maintain and share only its local meta-index (mapping between its keywords and member search engines) rather than synchronizing entire databases or all search data. This reduces communication overhead to only the essential coordination information needed for uniform control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2320616B1Mobile searching method and system, and method for synchronizing search ability of searching server
Publication Date: 2013.11.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2320616B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2320616B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2320616B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile search method and system are provided. The method includes the following steps. receiving, by a local search server, a search request sent by a client, wherein the search request carries a search keyword; acquiring a member search engine by selecting from a meta index stored locally according to the search keyword, wherein the meta index stored locally comprises a meta index of the local search server and meta indexes of other search servers; searching a search server at which the member search engine is located; and when the search server at which the member search engine is located is not a local search engine, sending a second search request to the search server at which the member search engine is located, wherein the second search request comprises the search keyword; receiving a search result that is returned by the search server at which the member search engine is located according to the search keyword; and sending the search result to the client.