Web Interface Module for Cross-Application Data Search

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reporting tools like OBIEE and SSRS lack transparent search capabilities and require specific technology skills, making cross-application data search inefficient and cumbersome, especially when integrating with disparate infrastructures and application style sheets.

Innovation Solution

A platform-independent system that allows users to structure and handle search requests across different applications, formulating search routines compatible with various data models and infrastructures through a web interface module, enabling seamless data retrieval and integration with structured and unstructured data sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing reporting tools like OBIEE and SSRS are used, then reporting functionality is provided, but search capabilities are lacking and technology skills are required to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsearch capabilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a web interface module as an intermediary layer between users and the underlying data infrastructure. This module translates user-friendly search requests into database queries, eliminating the need for users to directly interact with complex database structures while providing robust search capabilities across multiple data sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal search interface that can query multiple data sources including relational databases, unstructured data repositories, and other applications through a common web interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same interface to serve various search needs without requiring separate technology skills for each data source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If separate infrastructures are used for different applications, then each application can operate independently, but cross-application data search becomes difficult and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-application data search efficiencyVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a centralized search service as an intermediary that sits between multiple applications and data sources. This service abstracts the complexity of accessing different data repositories and provides a unified search interface, enabling efficient cross-application data search without requiring users to navigate complex infrastructure connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the search functionality into a separate centralized service that handles all search operations uniformly. This segmentation allows the search service to optimize for performance across multiple data sources while keeping each application simple and independent, resolving the contradiction between search efficiency and infrastructure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If reporting tools require specific technology skills to operate, then functionality can be achieved, but implementation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation costVSAvoidtechnology skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The web interface module serves as a mediator that translates business-user search requests into technical database queries. This eliminates the need for end users to possess technology skills while maintaining robust search functionality, thereby reducing implementation and maintenance costs by removing the dependency on skilled operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service search capabilities where users can perform searches directly through the web interface without requiring technical assistance. The centralized search service automatically handles data retrieval, filtering, and result presentation, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for technology-skilled personnel for routine operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If disparate applications with different style sheets are integrated, then data from multiple sources can be accessed, but integration becomes cumbersome and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata source compatibilityVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized search service acts as an intermediary that uniformly accesses disparate data sources regardless of their underlying infrastructure or style sheets. It provides a consistent search interface that works across different applications, enabling data integration without requiring users to manage the complexity of different system architectures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal search mechanism that can query multiple types of data sources including relational databases, unstructured data repositories, and other applications through a single interface. This multi-functional capability enables broad data source compatibility while abstracting away the integration complexity from users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9230028B1Dynamic search service
Publication Date: 2016.01.05 FMR CORP
  • US9230028B1 patent drawing
  • US9230028B1 patent drawing
  • US9230028B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A platform independent system for performing a search request provided by a user. The platform independent system includes a consuming application executing on a first computer that handles the search request provided by a user. The search request includes instructions to retrieve selected data from a second application. A web interface module executing on a second computer receives the search request and formulates search routines regardless of the search engine logic or infrastructure of the consuming application to connect to a data model that contains the selected data for retrieval. The web interface module structures data associated with the search request to be compatible for searching with the data model.