Search Result Federation via Schema Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search applications fail to effectively combine and display search results from multiple sources into a unified view, requiring users to navigate separate results sets and adjust search terms, leading to inefficient search efforts.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for federating search results by merging and displaying data from different data sources with unique schemas into a single results set user interface, allowing users to refine and filter results in a single scrollable area, regardless of the number of sources or schema overlap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If search results from multiple data sources are displayed in separate view panes or tabs, then each data source can be displayed with its own schema, but the user cannot review or refine all results together in a unified view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges search results from multiple data sources into a single unified results set user interface. The system receives search results from multiple data sources with different schemas, maps their fields to a common schema, and displays them together in one scrollable view. This allows users to review and refine all results simultaneously without switching between separate tabs or panes, directly resolving the contradiction between supporting multiple schemas and providing unified review capability.
2Quantity of substance
If users must adjust search terms and page through results tab by tab, then comprehensive search coverage is achieved, but search efficiency and user productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines results from multiple data sources into a single unified view that maintains comprehensive search coverage while eliminating the need for users to navigate multiple tabs. The unified results set allows users to refine searches and page through all results in one location, significantly improving search efficiency and productivity without sacrificing the breadth of search coverage.
3Ease of operation
If multiple data sources with unique schemas are integrated into a single results set, then unified view and ease of operation improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a schema mapping layer as an intermediary between multiple data sources with different schemas and the unified results set user interface. This mapping layer translates fields from various source schemas to a common target schema, allowing the system to integrate diverse data sources without requiring complex custom handling for each combination. The mapping approach simplifies the integration process while maintaining the ability to support multiple unique schemas.
4Reliability
If conventional search applications handle each data source separately, then data integrity for each source is maintained, but the ability to provide a unified search experience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The schema mapping layer acts as an intermediary that preserves the integrity of individual data sources while enabling unified search experience. The mapping process maintains the original data from each source and simply translates the schema representation, ensuring that data integrity is preserved while allowing the unified results set to provide a consistent user experience across all sources.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods enable federation of search results. An identification of a first data source associated with a first schema is received by the system, the first data source comprising data of a first type. An identification of a second data source associated with a second schema is received, the second data source comprising data of a second type, the second type different than the first type. An identification of a plurality of fields for a results set user interface, a mapping of the data of the first type to a first field of the results set user interface, and a mapping of the data of the second type to the first field of the results set user interface, are accessed. Data of the first type and data of the second type are merged and provided for display in the first field on a user terminal.