Search Interface with Category-Weight Sliders for Relevance Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search engines are limited in uncovering useful information due to their language-based approach, requiring users to have knowledge of common terminology and substantial skill to formulate effective queries, and often fail to retrieve relevant information that does not conform to standard terminology.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that imposes a structure on data and search queries, allowing for the correlation of data structure with query structure to provide broader and more intelligent search results, including non-exact matches, and utilizes category-weight and category-value sliders to dynamically adjust search relevance, along with a reputation system to filter and organize content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional language-based search engines are used, then users can search using common terminology, but users must have substantial skill and experience to formulate effective queries and cannot find information that does not conform to standard terminology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary representation layer between user queries and document content. Instead of directly matching user keywords with document text, the system translates both queries and documents into a common structured representation format, enabling automatic relevance determination without requiring users to master complex search syntax or terminology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameters of search from text-based keyword matching to structure-based relevance correlation. By representing both queries and documents in terms of their structural characteristics rather than linguistic content, the system enables automatic understanding of user information needs without requiring users to formulate precise queries.
2Measurement precision
If strict Boolean keyword-only search is used, then search results are precise, but useful information that does not conform to standard terminology remains hidden and cannot be retrieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial matching by determining relevance based on the degree to which query structure correlates with document structure, rather than requiring exact Boolean matches. This allows retrieval of partially relevant information that may not conform to strict terminology but still contains useful content, enabling users to discover information beyond exact keyword matches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical Boolean logic system with a correlation-based relevance determination system. Instead of rigid true/false matching, the system computes relevance scores by measuring the correlation between query and document structures, enabling flexible retrieval of information that matches user needs without conforming to strict terminology or Boolean constraints.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional search engines are used, then users can access mass information, but the information is difficult to navigate and find without substantial skill or experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically determining relevance between queries and documents without requiring user intervention in the matching process. Users simply provide their information needs in natural terms, and the system automatically translates this into structured queries and correlates them with document structures to retrieve relevant results, eliminating the need for users to learn complex search syntax or navigation skills.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface for searching records in a database is provided. Each record contains information regarding one or more categories. The user interface receives search criteria of one or more categories and provides search results comprising exact and/or non-exact matching records. A non-exact matching record has a relevance value representing the relevance of the record to the search query, the non-exact matching records being displayed in an ordering based on the relevance values. The user interface provides slider tools for receiving changes in a weight value or search criterion of an associated category. A new ordering of the non-exact matching records is displayed in real-time based on the new received weight values or search criterion. The user interface may also provide a mapping tool, a search-result selection function, and/or one or more drill down tools. The user interface may provide any tool or function alone or in any combination.