Search Result Coverage Analysis via Topical Gap Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information retrieval systems fail to assist users in assessing and improving the quality of selected documents from search results, leaving users to manually browse through numerous documents without clear guidance on relevance or completeness.

Innovation Solution

An information retrieval system that analyzes selected documents to identify key subjects and presents a graphical interface, such as a pie chart, showing the relevance to the query and highlighting gaps in topical scope, allowing users to initiate targeted searches to fill coverage gaps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional search engines return all matching documents, then search completeness is improved, but user assessment burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of search resultsVSAvoiduser assessment burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coverage analysis tool as an intermediary between the search engine and the user. This tool automatically analyzes selected documents against the original query to compute topical coverage metrics, serving as a mediator that translates raw search results into actionable coverage assessments without requiring manual evaluation by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of browsing and evaluating documents with an automated computational system. The coverage analysis tool uses algorithms to automatically compare selected documents against the query, compute coverage scores, and generate visual representations, substituting human manual assessment with automated mechanical processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually browse search results, then document selection flexibility is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument selection flexibilityVSAvoidtime to assess results

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the selected documents against the original query before the user needs to make final selections. The coverage analysis tool proactively computes topical coverage metrics and identifies gaps in advance, allowing users to make informed decisions faster without needing to manually review each document in detail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the coverage analysis tool provides immediate feedback to users about the quality and completeness of their document selections. By displaying coverage scores and visual representations of topical coverage, the system feedbacks to users enabling them to quickly assess whether their selections are sufficient or if additional documents are needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If search results are presented without quality indicators, then system simplicity is improved, but user trust in results decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiduser trust in results

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual representations with color coding to indicate coverage quality levels. Different colors or visual intensities represent different coverage scores, providing an intuitive visual feedback mechanism that helps users quickly assess the quality of search results without adding complex textual explanations or indicators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Speed

If users select documents without coverage analysis, then selection speed is improved, but information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselection speedVSAvoidtopical coverage gaps

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The coverage analysis tool provides feedback to users about topical coverage gaps in their selected documents. By identifying and displaying which topics are underrepresented or missing, the system enables users to quickly assess information completeness and make targeted selections to fill gaps without requiring comprehensive manual review of all possible documents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8949259B2Systems, methods, software, and interfaces for analyzing, mapping, and depicting search results in a topical space

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 CENGAGE LEARNING

AI summary

The present inventor devised, among other things, information retrieval systems, methods, software, and related interfaces that help users assess and if necessary bolster the quality of their manual selections from search results. One exemplary system receives a set of documents selected from search results for an input query, identifies key subjects in the selected documents, and outputs a graphic, such as a pie chart, that shows not only how well these selected documents relate to the query, but also whether there are gaps in the topical scope of the selected documents related to the input query.