Mobile Device Search Segmentation and Local Caching

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices experience significant communication lag when performing remote searches due to the slow nature of wireless communications, as they need to send search terms to a file server and receive large search results, leading to undesirably long times from search initiation to result receipt.

Innovation Solution

A mobile wireless communications device that downloads an initial portion of a selected file folder locally, performs a local search on this portion, and then performs a remote search on the remaining portion, presenting search results on the display, while sending search terms to the server only after a threshold time has passed since the last character input, thereby reducing remote search requests and conserving resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a remote search is performed on the file server, then comprehensive search results can be obtained, but the communication time and bandwidth usage increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch completenessVSAvoidsearch time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the file folder into two parts: an initial portion downloaded locally to the mobile device and a remainder portion remaining on the server. The search process is also segmented into a local search phase and a remote search phase. This segmentation allows the system to perform quick local searches on the downloaded portion while minimizing remote communications, thus reducing overall search time while maintaining comprehensive search capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by downloading an initial portion of the file folder contents to the mobile device before the search is executed. This preliminary download enables the mobile device to perform local searches on this portion without needing to communicate with the server during the actual search execution, significantly reducing communication time and bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the mobile device sends search terms to the file server immediately upon user input, then search responsiveness is improved, but the number of remote search requests increases, consuming more bandwidth and server resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch responsivenessVSAvoidbandwidth usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by downloading an initial portion of the file folder contents to the mobile device before the search is executed. This preliminary download enables the mobile device to perform local searches on this portion without needing to communicate with the server during the actual search execution, significantly reducing communication time and bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the file folder into two parts: an initial portion downloaded locally to the mobile device and a remainder portion remaining on the server. The search process is also segmented into a local search phase and a remote search phase. This segmentation allows the system to perform quick local searches on the downloaded portion while minimizing remote communications, thus reducing overall search time while maintaining comprehensive search capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If a local search is performed on the entire file folder, then search speed is improved, but the device memory requirements and download time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch speedVSAvoidmemory usage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the file folder into two parts: an initial portion downloaded locally to the mobile device and a remainder portion remaining on the server. The search process is also segmented into a local search phase and a remote search phase. This segmentation allows the system to perform quick local searches on the downloaded portion while minimizing remote communications, thus reducing overall search time while maintaining comprehensive search capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing a local search only on the initial portion of the file folder that has been downloaded to the mobile device, rather than downloading the entire folder. This partial local search provides faster results for commonly accessed files while avoiding the memory and bandwidth costs of downloading complete folder contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2383667B1Mobile wireless communications device to perform local and remote search and associated methods

Publication Date: 2018.10.24 BLACKBERRY LTD

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AI summary

A mobile wireless communications device is to communicate with a server storing a plurality of file folders, and includes a display, a wireless transceiver, and a processor all carried by a housing. The processor is configured to wirelessly download an initial portion of a selected file folder from the server, with the server still having a remainder portion of the selected file folder available for downloading. The processor also generates search results by performing a local search of the initial portion of the file folder, and performs a remote search of the reminder portion of the selected file folder. The processor further presents the search results on the display.