Unified Search Interface for Multi-Entity Database Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current database search interfaces restrict users to specifying conditions for a pre-defined set of attributes, limiting their ability to search for data items based on attributes of related entity types, requiring multiple searches and manual comparisons to find desired data items.
Innovation Solution
A search interface that allows users to specify search criteria for both primary and secondary entities by identifying secondary entities corresponding to a selected primary entity type, enabling a single user request with conditions combining attributes of both, thereby simplifying the search process and reducing the need for multiple searches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users are restricted to specifying conditions for a pre-defined set of attributes, then the search interface is simpler to implement, but users cannot search for data items based on attributes of related entity types
Solution Approach 1:
The search interface is segmented into multiple tabs, with each tab representing a different entity type (e.g., Customer, Contact, Account). Users can switch between tabs to specify search conditions for different entity types. This segmentation allows the interface to handle complex multi-entity searches while maintaining a simple, organized structure that doesn't overwhelm users.
Solution Approach 2:
The search interface is designed to be universal by supporting searches across multiple entity types through a single unified interface. The same search condition specification mechanism works for all entity types, allowing users to search for data items based on attributes of related entity types without needing separate interfaces for each entity type.
2Measurement precision
If users can specify conditions for multiple entity types in a single search, then search precision improves, but the time and resources required for processing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and caching the relationships between entity types before the actual search execution. The interface pre-configures the entity type combinations and their relationships, so when a user submits a search request involving multiple entity types, the system can quickly resolve and execute the search without performing complex relationship analysis in real-time, thus reducing processing time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the search interface allows conditions combining attributes of primary and secondary entities, then user flexibility increases, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring search criteria increases
Solution Approach 1:
The search criteria are segmented and organized by entity type through tabs. Each tab displays only the attributes relevant to that specific entity type, making it easy for users to detect and specify search conditions. The system automatically manages the complexity by presenting information in manageable, organized segments rather than overwhelming users with all possible attributes at once.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented approach which identifies secondary entities associated with a (primary) entity selected by a user, and enables the user to find entity instances of interest by performing a search based on the attributes of the user selected primary entity and one or more of the identified secondary entities. In an embodiment, the secondary entities are identified based on a schema defining the entity types in a database system. The search may be used to retrieve (and provide to the user) only the entity instances matching the conditions specified based on the attributes of the primary entity and the secondary entities. The user interface may accordingly be simplified.