Web Crawler Parallel Processing and Index Re-Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web crawlers face challenges due to the vast size and dynamic nature of the World Wide Web, leading to inefficient data retrieval, server overload, and repeated operations, which result in slower operations and outdated information.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced web crawler capable of performing multiple tasks in parallel, prioritizing page downloads, and employing policies for efficient crawling, such as selection, re-visit, politeness, and parallelization policies, while also utilizing URL normalization and periodic re-searches of search engine indexes to maintain data freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional web crawlers perform one or a few tasks at a time, then the crawler can maintain simple operations, but the crawling efficiency is low and repeated operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the web crawling process into multiple independent task modules that can execute in parallel. Each task module handles a specific function (e.g., downloading pages, parsing content, updating indexes), allowing the system to perform multiple operations simultaneously rather than sequentially, thereby improving crawling efficiency without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The enhanced web crawler is designed as a multi-functional system capable of performing various tasks including web page downloading, content parsing, index updating, and cache validation simultaneously. This universal crawler can adapt to different crawling needs and perform multiple functions through a unified architecture, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and complexity
2Reliability
If web crawlers repeatedly access pages to check cache status, then data freshness can be maintained, but server load increases and operations slow down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a policy where the crawler checks the `robots.txt` file and cache status before repeatedly accessing pages. By performing preliminary checks and using conditional logic to determine whether full crawling or partial updates are needed, the system maintains data freshness while minimizing unnecessary server requests and reducing overall server load
Solution Approach 2:
The enhanced crawler implements periodic re-crawling with intelligent intervals. Instead of continuous or frequent repeated access, the system schedules crawling operations at optimized intervals based on page importance and change frequency, maintaining data freshness while allowing servers to recover between requests, thus reducing harmful server load
3Loss of information
If the web crawler searches all pages on a web site and then searches search engine indexes, then comprehensive data retrieval is achieved, but the time required for data retrieval increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dual-dimension crawling approach: the crawler operates both on the web site itself (direct page access) and on search engine indexes (indirect information retrieval). By searching both the target website and external search engine caches simultaneously, the system achieves comprehensive data coverage while reducing the time required to retrieve information that may already be cached elsewhere
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two crawling strategies into a unified process: direct web site crawling and search engine index searching. By combining these approaches, the system achieves complete data retrieval from multiple sources simultaneously, ensuring no information is missed while leveraging the strengths of both methods to reduce overall retrieval time
4Productivity
If multiple tasks are performed in parallel by the web crawler, then productivity increases, but coordination and management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central coordinator or manager component that acts as an intermediary between multiple parallel task modules. This mediator handles task distribution, result aggregation, and conflict resolution, allowing parallel operations to proceed efficiently while centralizing the complexity of coordination, thus enabling high productivity without unmanageable complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for searching the World Wide Web are disclosed. The method includes searching all the pages of at least one web site and then searching at least one search engine index for all the pages of at least one web site and determining if the pages are cached in the search engine index. A further embodiment provides for searching an index of a search engine, repeating the search after a specified period of time and then determining if any changes have been made to the web pages in the search engine index.