Enhance search experience using logical collections

• US 8,799,308 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eptronics, Inc., Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutlapalli, Hari Krishna, Mehta, Suhas Rohit, Pak, Wai, Kothari, Shirish Kasturchand
• Primary Examiner(s): Rostami, Mohammad S
• Application Number:
  US12/254,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20090234813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/906 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A search system architecture is disclosed. The search system architecture includes a search server, which in turn includes a search services module and a search engine adapter. The search services module and the search engine adapter are communicatively coupled to one another. The search services module is configured to communicate with a user interface. The search engine adapter is configured to communicate with a search engine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at least one keyword and a logical collection identifier at a search engine, wherein

said logical collection identifier identifies a logical collection,

said logical collection comprises a plurality of business objects, and

each business object of said plurality of business objects represents a corresponding data source of a plurality of data sources by virtue of being communicatively coupled between said search engine and said corresponding data source of said plurality of data sources; and

performing a search using said at least one keyword and said logical collection identifier, wherein

said performing said search comprises

identifying a single search index using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said single search index is associated with a set of business objects comprising at least two business objects of said plurality of business objects,

searching said single search index using said at least one keyword, and

retrieving at least one reference from said single search index, wherein

said at least one reference corresponds to said at least one keyword,

said at least one reference identifies

a first record in a first business object of said set of business objects, and

a second record in a second business object of said set of business objects,

said first record represents first data in a first data source of said plurality of data sources,

said first business object represents said first data source,

said second record represents second data in a second data source of said plurality of data sources, and

said second business object represents said second data source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

said each business object of said plurality of business objects represents at least one data source of said plurality of data sources,

said each business object of said plurality of business objects is configured to represent said at least one data source of said plurality of data sources by virtue of being configured to abstract data of said at least one data source of said plurality of data sources,

said data comprises a plurality of records,

said each business object of said plurality of business objects are configured to provide said data of said at least one data source of said plurality of data sources, and

the method further comprises

identifying data in said at least one data source of said plurality of data sources using at least one of said plurality of business objects, wherein

said at least one of said plurality of business objects is identified by said logical collection identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

said logical collection identifier is received via a user interface,

each of said plurality of business objects comprises

a corresponding plurality of records of a plurality of records,

said at least one reference identifies at least one record of said plurality of records, and

said at least one record comprises

said first record and said second record.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving at least one record of a plurality of records from at least one of said plurality of business objects using at least one reference, wherein

each of said plurality of business objects comprises

a corresponding plurality of records of said plurality of records,

said at least one reference identifies said at least one record,

said at least one record comprises

said first record, and

said second record, and

said each of said plurality of business objects is configured to be comprised in said logical collection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one keyword and said logical collection identifier are received from a search server, the method further comprising:

returning a search result to said search server, wherein

said search result comprises at least one of

said at least one reference, or

said first record and said second record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

said logical collection identifier is configured to identify said plurality of business objects by virtue of being configured to identify a plurality of business object identifiers, and

each of said business object identifiers is configured to identify at least one of said plurality of business objects.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein

said single search index is a global index by virtue of said single search index being associated with said each business object of said plurality of business objects.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a first reference from a plurality of references using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said single search index comprises said plurality of references,

said first reference is selected as a result of said first reference identifying at least one of said plurality of business objects of said logical collection,

said first reference identifies at least one record, and

said at least one reference comprises said first reference.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving said at least one record from said at least one of said plurality of business objects using said first reference.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a plurality of records using said at least one reference, wherein

said at least one reference identifies said plurality of records, and

said plurality of records comprises

said first record, and

and said second record; and

selecting at least one record from said plurality of records using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said at least one record is in a business object of said plurality of business objects.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein

another plurality of business objects comprises

said plurality of business objects,

said single search index comprises

a plurality of individual search indices, and

each individual search index of said individual search indices is associated with a corresponding business object of said another plurality of business objects.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein performing said search further comprises:

for each corresponding business object of said another plurality of business objects,

identifying an individual search index of said individual search indices associated with said each corresponding business object,

identifying a reference in said individual search index using said at least one keyword, and

identifying a record of said each corresponding business object using said reference.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

for said each corresponding business object,

retrieving said record from said each corresponding business object using said reference.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising

identifying said plurality of business objects using said logical collection identifier.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein

said first record and said second record satisfy said search, and

said each business object of said plurality of business objects is configured to be comprised in said logical collection.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a plurality of instructions, comprising

a first set of instructions, executable on a computer system, configured to receive at least one keyword and a logical collection identifier at a search engine, wherein

said computer system comprises said search engine,

said logical collection identifier is configured to identify a logical collection,

said logical collection comprises a plurality of business objects, and

each business object of said plurality of business objects is configured to represent a corresponding data source of a plurality of data sources by virtue of being configured to be communicatively coupled between said search engine and said corresponding data source of said plurality of data sources, and

a second set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to perform a search using said at least one keyword and said logical collection identifier, wherein

said second set of instructions comprise

a first subset of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify a single search index using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said single search index is associated with a set of business objects comprising at least two business objects of said plurality of business objects,

a second subset of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to search said single search index using said at least one keyword, and

a third subset of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to retrieve at least one reference from said single search index, wherein

said at least one reference corresponds to said at least one keyword,

said at least one reference identifies

a first record in a first business object of said set of business objects, and

a second record in a second business object of said set of business objects,

said first record represents first data in a first data source of said plurality of data sources,

said first business object represents said first data source,

said second record represents second data in a second data source of said plurality of data sources, and

said second business object represents said second data source; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein said instructions are encoded in said non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said instructions further comprise:

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to retrieve at least one record of a plurality of records of said plurality of business objects from at least one of said plurality of business objects using at least one reference, wherein

each of said plurality of business objects comprises

a corresponding plurality of records of said plurality of records,

said at least one reference identifies said at least one record,

said at least one record comprises

said first record, and

said second record, and

said each of said plurality of business objects is configured to be comprised in said logical collection.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said instructions further comprise:

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to select a first reference from a plurality of references using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said single search index comprises said plurality of references,

said first reference is selected as a result of said first reference identifying at least one of said plurality of business objects of said logical collection,

said first reference identifies at least one record, and

said at least one reference comprises said first reference; and

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to retrieve said at least one record from said at least one of said plurality of business objects using said first reference.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said instructions further comprise:

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to retrieve a plurality of records using said at least one reference, wherein

said single search index is a global index as a result of said single search index being associated with each of said plurality of business objects,

said at least one reference identifies said plurality of records, and

said plurality of records comprises said first record and said second record; and

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to select at least one record from said plurality of records using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said at least one record is in a business object of said plurality of business objects.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein

another plurality of business objects comprises said plurality of business objects,

said single search index comprises a plurality of individual search indices, and

each individual search index of said individual search indices is associated with a corresponding business object of said another plurality of business objects.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said instructions further comprise:

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, for each corresponding business object of said another plurality of business objects,

identify an individual search index of said individual search indices associated with said each corresponding business object,

identify a reference in said individual search index using said at least one keyword, and

identify a record of said each corresponding business object using said reference.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a computer system comprising a search engine;

means for receiving at least one keyword and a logical collection identifier at said search engine, wherein

said logical collection identifier identifies a logical collection,

said logical collection comprises a plurality of business objects coupled to said search engine, and

each business object of said plurality of business objects represents a corresponding data source of a plurality of data sources by virtue of being communicatively coupled between said search engine and said corresponding data source of said plurality of data sources; and

means for performing a search, wherein

said means for performing said search is configured to use said at least one keyword and said logical collection identifier, and

said means for performing said search comprises

means for identifying a single search index, wherein

said means for identifying is configured to use said logical collection identifier to identify said single search index, and

said single search index is associated with a set of business objects comprising at least two business objects of said plurality of business objects,

means for searching said single search index using said at least one keyword, and

means for retrieving at least one reference from said single search index, wherein

said at least one reference corresponds to said at least one keyword,

said at least one reference identifies

a first record in a first business object of said set of business objects, and

a second record in a second business object of said set of business objects, and

said first record represents first data in a first data source of said plurality of data sources,

said first business object represents said first data source,

said second record represents second data in a second data source of said plurality of data sources, and

said second business object represents said second data source.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory storing instructions executable to implement

a search engine, wherein

said search engine is configured to

receive a keyword and a logical collection identifier, wherein

said logical collection identifier is configured to identify a logical collection comprising a plurality of business objects,

said logical collection identifier is associated with a plurality of business object identifiers, and

each business object of said plurality of business objects represents a corresponding data source of a plurality of data sources by virtue of being communicatively coupled between said search engine and said corresponding data source of said plurality of data sources,

identifying a single search index using said logical collection identifier, wherein

said single search index is associated with a set of business objects comprising at least two business object identifiers of said plurality of business object identifiers,

search said single search index using said at least one keyword,

retrieve at least one reference from said single search index, wherein

said at least one reference corresponds to said at least one keyword,

said at least one reference identifies

a first record associated with a first business object of said set of business objects, and

a second record associated with a second business object of said set of business objects, and

said first record represents first data in a first data source of said plurality of data sources,

said first business object identifier represents said first data source,

said second record represents second data in a second data source of said plurality of data sources, and

said second business object identifier represents said second data source.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

said search engine comprises

a logical collection map,

said single search index, and

a plurality of search engine components, coupled to one another,

at least one of said search engine components is coupled to said logical collection map,

at least one other of said search engine components is coupled to said logical collection map,

said logical collection map comprises

said logical collection identifier, and

said plurality of business object identifiers, and

said logical collection map is configured to associate said business object identifiers with said logical collection identifier.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein

each of said business object identifiers is configured to identify at least one of

said plurality of business object.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein

said single search index comprises

a plurality of keywords, and

a plurality of references,

each of said references corresponds to at least one of said keywords, and

at least one of said plurality of references is configured to use at least one of said keywords to identify a record and a business object of said plurality of business objects.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein

said single search index is a global index,

said search engine is configured to

select said at least one reference from said plurality of references, wherein

said at least one reference is selected as a result of said at least one reference identifying at least one of said plurality of business objects of said logical collection, and

retrieve at least one record from said business object, using said at least one reference, wherein

said at least one record comprises said first record and said second record.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein

said single search index is a global index,

said search engine is configured to

retrieve a plurality of records using said at least one reference, and

select at least one record from said plurality of records using said logical collection identifier,

said at least one record comprises

said first record, and

said second record, and

said at least one record is in a business object of said plurality of business objects of said logical collection.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said search engine further comprises:

a plurality of search indices, wherein

said search indices comprise said single search index,

each of said search indices is an individual index that corresponds to one of another plurality of business objects,

said another plurality of business objects comprises said plurality of business objects, and

said search engine is configured to

for each business object of said plurality of business objects,

identify an individual search index of said individual search indices associated with said each business object,

identify a reference in said individual search index using at least one of said keywords, and

identify said record using said reference.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a search engine application programming interface (API), wherein

said search engine API is configured to couple said search engine and a search server to one another,

said search server comprises

a search services module, and

a search engine adapter,

said search services module and said search engine adapter are communicatively coupled to one another, and

said search engine is configured to

communicate with said search engine adapter via said search engine API, and

search said plurality of data sources via said plurality of business objects.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein

said at least one of said search engine components and said at least one other of said search engine components are the same search engine component, and

said each business object of said plurality of business objects is configured to be comprised in said logical collection.