Search Result Set Optimization via Pre-fetched Alternative Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ecommerce sites face challenges in providing optimal site-level search results when initial search queries yield limited results, leading to a negative consumer experience due to the absence of physical cues that influence trust and interaction.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a first result set from a first search query and a second result set from a second search query, associating the second result set with the first query when users indicate relevance, ensuring that the second results are displayed upon subsequent executions of the first query if the initial results fall below a predefined threshold and the user does not interact with them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a site-level search mechanism is implemented to help visitors find desired objects, then the consumer experience is enhanced, but the search results may be limited when initial queries yield few results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating alternative search queries based on the initial query and pre-fetching results from those alternative queries. When the initial search yields limited results, these pre-prepared alternative results are immediately available to present to the user, avoiding the need for additional real-time processing and maintaining fast response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that acts as a bridge between the initial search query and the final results presented to users. When initial results are insufficient, the system generates alternative queries as intermediaries to retrieve additional relevant results, thereby expanding the result set without requiring users to manually reformulate their searches.
2Quantity of substance
If alternative search queries are generated to expand result sets, then more search results are provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the search process into distinct components: the initial query processing, alternative query generation, result aggregation, and presentation layers. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and managed, reducing overall system complexity while enabling the generation of expanded result sets through multiple query pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically generating alternative search queries and processing their results without requiring additional user input or manual intervention. The alternative query generation and result aggregation happen autonomously based on the initial query and user interaction patterns, reducing the need for complex manual configuration and management.
3Ease of operation
If the second result set is associated with the first search query for subsequent executions, then user interaction is improved, but the storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by selectively associating alternative result sets with specific initial queries based on local conditions such as user interaction patterns and result quality metrics. Rather than universally storing all alternative results for all queries, the system only associates and stores alternative result sets when they demonstrate value in improving user experience for particular query-result pairs, thereby optimizing storage utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Approaches presented herein enable optimizing site-level search results by associating a set of search results of a second search query with a first search query for subsequent uses of the first search query. Specifically, a first result set is generated from a first search query and a second result set is generated from a second search query. Based on a response from a user, the second result set is associated with the first search for subsequent executions of the first search query when the first result set is below a predefined threshold and the user does not interact with the first result set.