Multi-phase Search Engine for Travel Reservations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical search engines for travel reservations face challenges in quickly presenting significant search results due to massive datasets and multiple underlying queries, leading to frustration for users as they often require multiple searches and filter actions to find relevant results.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase search methodology where a travel reservation search engine constructs initial and secondary queries based on user constraints, prioritizing results with a high probability of leading to a purchase, and presents them in phases to minimize user wait time and confusion, with summaries provided for secondary phase results to aid decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple underlying queries are performed in parallel on massive datasets, then comprehensive search results are obtained, but the time to present results to the user increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search process into multiple phases: a first phase that performs a limited number of queries (e.g., 3-5) to quickly present initial results, and subsequent phases that perform additional queries to provide more comprehensive results. This segmentation allows the system to balance between speed and completeness by presenting results in stages rather than waiting for all queries to complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by executing a subset of queries first to generate initial search results that are presented to the user immediately. While these initial results are being displayed, the system continues to execute additional queries in the background, allowing the user to see results without waiting for the complete search to finish.
2Quantity of substance
If all search results from multiple queries are presented to the user, then complete information is provided, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the presentation of search results into different phases, with each phase displaying a manageable subset of results. The first phase presents results from a limited number of queries in a simple format, while subsequent phases can present additional results or more detailed information. This prevents overwhelming the user with all results simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is designed to be dynamic, allowing users to control how results are presented. Users can choose to view results in phases, adjust the number of queries performed, or navigate through different result sets. This dynamic approach gives users control over the complexity they encounter while ensuring comprehensive results are available.
3Reliability
If the system waits for all underlying queries to complete before presenting results, then accurate and complete results are provided, but user wait time increases causing frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by executing a subset of queries and presenting those results before all queries are complete. The first phase executes a limited number of queries (e.g., 3-5) and presents results immediately, providing users with useful information while the remaining queries continue in the background. This ensures users don't wait for complete results before seeing valuable information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by allowing the search process to continue in the background after initial results are presented. While users are viewing and interacting with first-phase results, the system continues executing additional queries, so the useful action of searching is never interrupted, and more comprehensive results become available when users are ready for them.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a methodology and system for efficiently performing travel reservation queries and presenting significant search results to a user. A travel reservation search engine constructs a first query from one or more constraints. The first query has a threshold probability of returning a first set of search results that will lead to the purchase of a travel reservation. Additionally, if determined necessary by the search engine a second query is constructed from one or more constraints. The second query returns a second set of search results.