Multi-Prefix Search Interface for Mobile Cloud Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the mobile communications environment, users face challenges with targeted information retrieval due to human interface limitations, slower navigation, and the need for more integrated and scalable search mechanisms that can quickly locate information from a broad domain with minimal user interaction, while also providing context-specific functionality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-prefix and multi-tier search techniques, combined with dynamic menus and predictive text, allows for interactive and efficient information retrieval by minimizing data entry requirements and providing context-specific actions, leveraging existing cloud services for content management and sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional search mechanisms are used on mobile phones, then users can access information, but the navigation speed is slow and requires more user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing search queries and pre-loading relevant information before the user actually needs it. The predictive text and multi-prefix search algorithms anticipate user needs based on partial inputs, preparing results in advance to reduce actual navigation time and interaction requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The search interface is segmented into multiple tiers with different levels of specificity. Users can navigate through hierarchical levels (e.g., broad categories to specific items) allowing them to stop at any level that provides sufficient information, reducing the need to traverse the entire search tree and improving both speed and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If multi-prefix and multi-tier search techniques are implemented, then targeted information retrieval is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The search mechanism is designed to be universal, handling multiple search types (single-prefix, multi-prefix, exact-match) and operating at multiple tiers through a single integrated framework. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide precise targeted retrieval without requiring separate complex subsystems for each search mode.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary layer of algorithms mediates between the simple user interface and the complex search processing. The predictive text generator and query parser act as intermediaries that translate simple user inputs into sophisticated search queries, hiding the complexity from users while maintaining precision.
3Ease of operation
If cloud services are leveraged for content management, then content sharing is simplified, but network dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service content management where users can directly create, edit, and share content through intuitive interfaces without requiring complex server-side programming or administration. The cloud services handle the technical complexity automatically, providing simple user-facing functionality that reduces network dependency for complex operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques (including predictive text techniques to facilitate the generation of targeted ads) that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth. Applications are built by leveraging existing collaborative cloud services that enable the maintenance and sharing of user content.