Mobile Device Search Agents for Enterprise Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enterprise search technologies cannot effectively search data stored on mobile devices due to their transient nature, leading to incomplete synchronization and limited data accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enable a search server to communicate directly or via a host PC with mobile devices to transmit search requests, allowing mobile devices to perform searches and return results, which are then presented to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If data synchronization is performed between mobile devices and networked computers, then data accessibility is improved, but synchronization completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the search function from the traditional synchronization model. Instead of requiring complete data synchronization between mobile devices and networked computers, the system enables direct search queries to mobile devices through search agents. This extraction allows information retrieval without relying on incomplete synchronization, resolving the contradiction between data accessibility and synchronization completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces search agents as intermediary components that bridge enterprise search services and mobile devices. These agents operate independently of the synchronization mechanism, enabling direct communication between search servers and mobile devices. The intermediary approach allows search functionality to access data on mobile devices without requiring complete data synchronization, thus improving both accessibility and reliability.
2Loss of information
If mobile devices are integrated into enterprise search services, then data accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling mobile devices to autonomously respond to search queries without requiring complex configuration or manual setup. Mobile devices with search agents can directly communicate with search servers using standard protocols, eliminating the need for extensive administrative configuration. This self-service approach improves data accessibility while minimizing the complexity burden on individual devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a search agent framework that works across multiple mobile device types (PDAs, wireless phones, handhelds) using standardized communication protocols. This universal approach allows diverse mobile devices to be integrated into enterprise search services without requiring device-specific configuration, thereby improving data accessibility while reducing overall system complexity.
3Speed
If search requests are transmitted to mobile devices, then search speed is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having mobile devices perform local search processing rather than transmitting all data to the server. Search agents on mobile devices execute search queries locally and return only relevant results, reducing the amount of data traversing the network. This partial processing approach improves search response time while minimizing network bandwidth consumption compared to full data synchronization or server-based processing.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure pertains to solutions, including without limitation, systems, methods, and software programs, that provide the ability to quickly and efficiently search mobile devices for relevant information. An exemplary search server has the ability to communicate (either directly and/or via a host PC) with one or more mobile devices to transmit a search request. The mobile devices, in turn, have a search facility that is configured to perform a search of the contents of the device and return a set of results to the search server. These results then may be presented to a user, who can select one or more of the results. The selected search result(s) then may be downloaded from the device and presented to the user.