Semantic Search Engine for Database Query Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional business database searches are inefficient as they require multiple user operations and often store information across different directories, making it difficult to retrieve necessary data effectively.

Innovation Solution

A semantic search system that performs searches based on semantic relationships between search terms and entities associated with transactions, presenting consolidated results and action advices to guide user actions, thereby increasing search efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional database search tools are used with pre-determined classifications, then the database structure is simple and easy to maintain, but the search efficiency and user operation convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch operation convenienceVSAvoidsearch system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a semantic search engine as an intermediary layer between the user and the database. This intermediary uses semantic relationship mapping to translate user search queries into database queries, eliminating the need for users to navigate complex pre-determined classifications while maintaining database structure simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical navigation system (menu-based navigation through pre-determined classifications) with a semantic understanding system. Instead of requiring users to manually traverse database structures, the system uses semantic relationships to automatically retrieve relevant information, substituting mechanical navigation with intelligent interpretation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If information is stored across multiple directories and locations, then the database can store more diverse data, but the information retrieval efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation retrieval efficiencyVSAvoiddata storage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal search mechanism that can access information from multiple directories and locations simultaneously. The semantic search engine maps search terms to various entity types and locations, enabling a single search operation to retrieve information from across the entire database structure without requiring users to navigate through multiple directories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a semantic dimension to the traditional hierarchical database structure. By mapping search terms to semantic relationships and entity types, the system creates an additional search dimension that transcends the physical directory structure, allowing efficient retrieval across distributed data locations through semantic rather than spatial navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of time

If multiple user operations are required to gather information, then the search results can be more comprehensive, but the time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch timeVSAvoidnumber of operations required
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing semantic relationships and mapping search terms to entity types before actual search queries are executed. This preliminary semantic analysis enables the system to automatically retrieve comprehensive information in a single operation, eliminating the need for users to perform multiple sequential search operations to gather comprehensive results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple search operations into a single semantic search query. By combining the retrieval of direct matches and related entities through semantic relationships, the system provides comprehensive search results in one operation, eliminating the need for users to execute multiple separate queries to gather complete information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7698259B2Semantic search in a database
Publication Date: 2010.04.13 SAP SE
  • US7698259B2 patent drawing
  • US7698259B2 patent drawing
  • US7698259B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A search system performs a search in a database. In one embodiment, a process of the search system includes, but is not limited to, in response to a request to search a search term in the database, performing the search in the database based on semantics relationships of the search term and an entity in view of one or more transactions associated with the entity, and presenting a search result of the search, the search result including one or more documents associated with the one or more transactions.