Unified Search Overlay for Cloud Management Console
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and navigating through the complex resources and services of distributed systems, such as cloud-based services, is time-consuming and inconvenient due to the scale and complexity of these systems.
Innovation Solution
A unified search system that allows users to easily find and navigate to items in various categories associated with a cloud provider network by displaying a search bar in the management console, generating an overlay with top search results, and allowing users to select results without losing context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a unified search system with multiple indexes is implemented, then the time required to find and navigate to items is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The search system is divided into multiple independent indexes, each responsible for a specific category of cloud services and resources. This segmentation allows the system to search multiple specialized indexes simultaneously rather than one large monolithic index, reducing search time while keeping each index manageable in size and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The search system provides a universal search interface that works across all categories of cloud services and resources through a consistent user experience. The same search bar and result display mechanism handles different types of data (services, resources, features, documentation, products) uniformly, reducing the need for separate navigation systems for each category.
2Use of energy by moving object
If search results are presented as an overlay, then resource usage is minimized, but the ease of operation may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of navigating away from the current console view to see search results, the system displays results in an overlay that adds a new dimensional layer on top of the existing interface. This allows users to access search results without leaving their current context or navigating to separate pages, reducing navigation steps while efficiently utilizing the display space.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlay acts as an intermediary between the search query and the full service console. It provides a lightweight intermediate view that presents search results and allows quick selection without requiring users to fully navigate to detailed console pages, thus reducing the operational steps and resource usage associated with complete page transitions.
3Ease of operation
If a search bar is displayed in the management console, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The search bar is merged into the existing management console interface as an integrated component rather than a separate system. It combines seamlessly with the console's existing layout and design patterns, allowing users to access search functionality without encountering multiple separate interfaces or complex navigation structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for unified search and navigation for cloud-based services are disclosed. A unified search system receives textual input entered using a search interface. The search interface is displayed in a user interface concurrently with a management console for a cloud provider network. Based (at least in part) on the textual input, the system performs a search using one or more indexes usable to determine service names and descriptive information for the services. The system generates search results comprising a portion of the service names and a portion of the descriptive information. The search results are displayed using a search results overlay that is displayed concurrently with at least a portion of the management console. The system receives additional input entered using the overlay and comprising a selection of a particular search result. Responsive to the selection, additional information associated with the particular search result is displayed.