Unified Publication Search Interface for Physical and Electronic Books
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic book readers and devices lack a unified means to search for both physical and electronic versions of publications, making it difficult for users to find and acquire books, as they do not provide comprehensive access to both formats and their locations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables a user device to search for and retrieve both physical and electronic versions of publications from multiple providers, including libraries and bookstores, by integrating search functions across different data stores and providing location-based results, allowing users to purchase or check out books from nearby locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic book readers provide separate search functions for physical and electronic publications, then users can access both formats, but the search process becomes complex and requires multiple interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate search functions for physical and electronic publications into a single unified search interface. The system integrates multiple data stores (physical library catalogs, electronic book repositories, online stores) and presents them through one cohesive search mechanism, eliminating the need for users to switch between different search interfaces while maintaining access to both publication formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The search system is designed to perform multiple functions through a single interface: searching physical library catalogs, searching electronic book databases, querying online book stores, and providing location-based results. This universal search capability allows users to access both physical and electronic publications without requiring separate specialized interfaces for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system integrates multiple data stores from different providers, then users can find a broader range of publications, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the unified search system) that mediates between users and multiple disparate data stores from different providers. This intermediary handles the complexity of integrating library catalogs, electronic book databases, and online store inventories, translating diverse data formats and protocols into a unified search interface while expanding the range of available publications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the integration complexity by maintaining separate, independent connections to each data store (library catalogs, electronic repositories, online stores) while presenting a unified interface to users. Each data store connection can be independently managed and configured, allowing the system to scale and adapt to new providers without redesigning the entire integration architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides location-based search results, then users can find nearby physical copies, but additional processing and data requirements are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary location processing by pre-establishing connections to geographic data sources and pre-processing location information for physical library branches and bookstores. When a user initiates a search, the location-based filtering and distance calculations are performed using pre-prepared data structures, reducing the computational complexity during actual search operations and improving the convenience of finding nearby publications.
Data Source
AI summary
A user device sends a search query for an item to a first data store associated with a first entity, wherein the item comprises at least one of an electronic version or a physical version, determines a format to be used by search queries to the second data store and generates a first modified search query for the second data store that is different than the search query and corresponds to the format. The user device sends the first modified search query to the second data store, receives item search results from the first data store and item search results from the second data store, the item search results indicating at least one of: the electronic version is available from an electronic location, the physical version is available at a physical location, or the physical location at which the physical version is available, and causes presentation of at least a portion of the item search results from the first data store together with at least a portion of the item search results from the second data store.