Search Abstraction Layer for Enterprise Search Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enterprise-wide search centers require costly downtime for configuration changes, as they are tightly coupled to the search center architecture, making it difficult to alter searchable fields of interest without shutting down the system.
Innovation Solution
A runtime configurable abstraction layer using a field mappings file that dynamically relates searchable fields of interest to search index fields, allowing for modifications without system downtime, through the use of a modifiable field mapping file that defines relationships between searchable object fields and search index fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the search center architecture uses tight coupling between search engines and searchable objects, then the system maintains structural simplicity and consistency, but configuration changes require system shutdown and cause downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the search center architecture into independent components: search engines, searchable objects, and an abstraction layer. This segmentation allows the abstraction layer to be modified independently without affecting the core search functionality, enabling configuration changes without system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an abstraction layer as an intermediary between search engines and searchable objects. This intermediary layer handles field mapping and configuration, allowing changes to be made to the abstraction layer without impacting the underlying search engine architecture or requiring system downtime.
2Adaptability or versatility
If configuration changes are made to searchable fields of interest, then the search center can adapt to changing user needs, but the system must be shut down during reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration capabilities through the abstraction layer, which allows searchable fields of interest to be modified at runtime. The system can adapt to changing user needs and business requirements without requiring shutdown, as configuration changes are applied dynamically through the abstraction layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-defining field mappings in the abstraction layer before they are needed. This allows configuration changes to be prepared and applied without interrupting system operation, as the abstraction layer can load new configurations without requiring system shutdown.
3Productivity
If all searchable object requirements are foreseen during initial configuration, then the search center can be deployed without downtime, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal abstraction layer that can handle multiple types of searchable objects and field configurations through a common interface. This multi-functionality allows the system to accommodate diverse searchable objects without requiring separate configuration processes for each type, reducing initial configuration time while maintaining deployment efficiency.
4Manufacturing precision
If the search center is shut down for post-deployed changes, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but operational costs increase due to unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The abstraction layer serves as an intermediary that isolates configuration changes from the core search engine operations. This allows configuration accuracy to be maintained through the abstraction layer's controlled modification process, while the underlying search engine continues to operate without shutdown, reducing operational costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for dynamically configuring searchable fields of interest within an enterprise-wide search center is provided. Such functionality is provided through the creation and maintaining of an abstraction layer that represents the searchable fields of interest, which are gathered from the total available fields from enterprise-wide searchable objects. The abstraction layer is defined through the use of a field mappings file that relates searchable fields of interest in searchable objects with fields within a search index accessible to the search center. The field mappings file can provide the defined relationships between searchable object fields and search index fields at runtime of a user session, thus avoiding a rigid configuration at the time of search center initialization. Through such runtime modification of the abstraction layer, costly downtime due to revision of a configuration of the search center can be avoided and a dynamic flexibility in the presentation of the fields in the searchable objects can be provided without a need for modification of the searchable objects themselves.