Two-Stage Search Interface for Mobile Text Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current search technologies on devices with limited text input capabilities, such as mobile phones, fail to effectively minimize user effort in entering search target keyphrases, as they either rely on incomplete search suggestions or direct result generation, which can confuse users and hinder integration with advertisement systems.

Innovation Solution

A two-stage search approach where individual keywords and sub keyphrases are searched and constructed with minimal character entry, allowing users to explicitly select components to form the full target keyphrase, which is then used for both search and advertisement systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If search suggestions are provided based on partial user input, then user effort in text entry is reduced, but the suggestions are incomplete and users cannot construct custom target keyphrases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effort in text entryVSAvoidcompleteness of search suggestions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the search process into two distinct stages: first constructing the target keyphrase by selecting keywords and sub-keyphrases, then performing the actual search. This segmentation allows users to build custom search queries component by component rather than relying on pre-defined suggestions, resolving the contradiction between reducing text entry effort and maintaining suggestion completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by automatically generating and presenting relevant keywords and sub-keyphrases as the user types, allowing users to select from these pre-processed options rather than typing everything manually. This preliminary preparation of search components reduces user effort while maintaining the ability to construct arbitrary target keyphrases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If direct document results are generated with every character entered, then search responsiveness is improved, but integration with advertisement systems becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch responsivenessVSAvoidintegration with advertisement systems

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by constructing the complete target keyphrase before executing the search. This allows advertisement systems to receive the full, finalized search query and generate relevant advertisements based on it, while still providing responsive feedback to users as they type by showing matching keywords and sub-keyphrases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the search process into keyphrase construction (stage 1) and document search (stage 2). This segmentation creates a clear interface point where the constructed target keyphrase can be passed to advertisement systems before the actual search executes, enabling both responsive user feedback and proper advertisement integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If users select from search suggestions, then text entry is minimized, but users lose the ability to modify the suggested target keyphrase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetext entry minimizationVSAvoiduser ability to modify search query

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the target keyphrase into selectable keywords and sub-keyphrases that users can choose from suggestions, but can also arrange and modify in sequence. Users build the target keyphrase by selecting components rather than accepting a complete pre-defined suggestion, maintaining both ease of selection and flexibility in query construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If comprehensive keyword and sub-keyphrase search is performed, then target keyphrase construction accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget keyphrase construction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex search process into two manageable stages with distinct functions. Stage 1 focuses exclusively on constructing the target keyphrase through keyword and sub-keyphrase selection, while Stage 2 handles the actual document search. This segmentation improves accuracy in keyphrase construction while keeping each stage's complexity manageable and separate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8903858B2User interface and system for two-stage search

Publication Date: 2014.12.02 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD

AI summary

This invention relates in general to search and more specifically to two-stage search, where first an incremental character-based search for the keywords and sub keyphrases that together form the target keyphrase to be searched for is performed in order to construct the target keyphrase and then a search for the target keyphrase so constructed is performed among the documents to be searched. The system in this invention is comprised of a user device system from the which the user performs the search, a search server system which performs the search for keywords and sub keyphrases that together form the target keyphrase using text entered by the user and performs the search for documents using the target keyphrase constructed by the user, and an advertisement server system that performs the search for advertisements corresponding to the target keyphrase.