Search Interface with Automatic Upscoping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing search and find mechanisms in software applications are inefficient, often returning large amounts of irrelevant data and requiring advanced search skills, as they typically search entire data storage areas without the ability to efficiently scope searches to specific sub-storage areas, leading to frustration for users when desired items are not found.
Innovation Solution
An integrated search and find user interface with a data indexing engine that allows for efficient and high-speed data search and retrieval, featuring a simplified search interface displayed near data storage folders, with options for expanded searches based on attributes and an automatic upscoping mechanism to broaden the search scope if necessary, enabling tailored and broader searches across multiple software modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If search mechanisms search across entire data storage areas, then they can find data items stored in any location, but they return large amounts of irrelevant data and operate slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the search process into two distinct modes: a simplified search mode that operates within the current storage area (fast, relevant results) and an expanded search mode that operates across the entire storage hierarchy (comprehensive coverage). This segmentation allows users to choose the appropriate search scope based on their needs, resolving the contradiction between search speed and search completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The search mechanism dynamically adjusts its scope based on user interaction. Initially, searches are limited to the current storage area for speed and relevance. When users need broader coverage, they can activate the expanded search mode. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize performance for the most common use case (local searches) while still providing comprehensive search capability when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If search mechanisms search across entire data storage areas, then they can locate data items regardless of storage location, but they require advanced search skills and frustrate users when items are not found
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search functionality into two distinct interfaces: a simplified search interface for common operations and an advanced search interface for complex queries. The simplified interface provides immediate feedback and intuitive controls, reducing the skill barrier for typical users while still allowing access to expanded search capabilities when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback during simplified searches, showing users results within their current storage area quickly. When no results are found, the system offers clear guidance on how to expand the search scope. This feedback mechanism guides users through the search process, reducing frustration and the need for advanced knowledge.
3Productivity
If users conduct searches in specific storage folders, then they get focused results, but they miss data items stored in other locations
Solution Approach 1:
The search system dynamically expands its scope from the current storage folder to the entire storage hierarchy when users activate the expanded search mode. This allows the system to maintain high efficiency for local searches while providing the ability to broaden coverage when needed, resolving the contradiction between focused search efficiency and comprehensive search capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A search and find user interface is provided that is integrated with a data indexing engine to allow efficient and high-speed data search and retrieval across data storage folders associated with a given software module or associated with a number of disparate software modules. An expanded form of the search and find user interface is provided for advanced searching. Where searching is required beyond a present search scope, an automatic “upscoping” mechanism is provided for expanding a search to data storage folders outside a current data storage folder on which an initial search is executed.