Unified Search Interface for Distributed Data Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines face challenges in retrieving relevant information due to the vast and diverse nature of data sources, including public and private data, which are often segregated and require multiple interfaces, protocols, and formats, leading to complicated information retrieval and difficulty in identifying desired information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a search system with an interface to communicate queries across multiple data sources, utilizing a visualization system to provide a search interface, a personalization system to tailor results to users, and an extract-transform-load (ETL) feature to acquire, transform, and load data, along with a query learner to refine searches based on user interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interfaces, protocols, and formats are used to access diverse data sources, then the system can access a broader range of data sources, but the complexity of information retrieval increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a unified search interface that acts as an intermediary between users and multiple diverse data sources. This interface abstracts the complexity of different protocols and formats, allowing users to query various data sources through a single standardized interface without needing to understand or manage the underlying diversity of data access mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The search system is designed to universally access multiple types of data sources (public web pages, private databases, internal applications, dark web data) through a single unified interface. The system performs multiple functions by adapting its query processing to work across different data source types while presenting a consistent user experience.
2Productivity
If conventional search engines use pre-processed data from spiders and bots, then the search results can be retrieved efficiently, but the quality of search results deteriorates due to junk results and inability to access private data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic query processing that adapts to the specific characteristics of each data source being queried. Rather than using a fixed pre-processed index, the system dynamically adjusts its search strategy based on the data source type, accessibility level, and query context, enabling both efficient retrieval and high result quality across diverse sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that analyze user interactions with search results and use this information to refine future queries. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from user behavior patterns and improve result quality over time, filtering out junk results and prioritizing relevant information based on actual user needs.
3Measurement precision
If search engines fine-tune results based on relevance to other users and link counts, then the search can filter some junk results, but the user's specific interests are not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service personalization by automatically analyzing user search behavior, preferences, and interaction patterns to customize search results without requiring explicit user configuration. The system serves itself by learning from user actions and automatically adjusting its ranking algorithms to match individual user interests, eliminating the need for manual setup while improving relevance.
Data Source
AI summary
In a particular embodiment, a method of goal-oriented searching is disclosed that includes providing a graphical user interface including an input and a selectable indicator. The selectable indicator is related to a pre-defined query associated with a particular goal. The particular goal includes multiple criteria. The method also includes receiving data related to the input and inserting the data into the pre-defined query to produce a goal-oriented query to identify one or more documents that satisfy the multiple criteria.