ACIS Search Profile Manager (ACIS-SPM)

The ACIS -SPM is a licensed program product that is developed by ACIS Consulting to enable multiple departments to share one common searchable data repository that brings together information from multiple applications and data silos.

Using ACIS-SPM, Clients are able to quickly configure and deploy a customized search service offering on their website that is tailored to meet their individual departments needs while at the same time leveraging the most advanced capabilities of a world leading search technology.

This mid-layer search based application enables each line of business or department to decide on the branding, look and feel, and what search interaction functions to present to their end users.

Large enterprises with multiple departments or multiple affiliate websites can achieve a significant amount of cost savings by avoiding duplication of effort associated with multiple departments implementing their own variation of a search solution for their website, thereby “re-inventing the wheel” multiple times.

Implementing Enterprise search as a shared service also has the added benefit of standardization, leveraging search best practices and provision of a centralized malicious content detection function.

ACIS SPM Solution Architecture

The solution architecture that is required to implement the above described capability consists of four layers:

  1. The data sources layer representing all of the applications and “data silos” such as websites,databases, file-shares etc. from which we will be retrieving the content to be indexed
  2. The search index layer that represents a single unified repository into which all of the retrieved content has been normalized and mapped.
  3. The ACIS-SPM mid-layer that is used as interface layer between the search user interface and the search engine, also manages multi-user configuration.
  4. Search User Interface presentation layer that is tailored and configured by each client.
ACIS Search Profile Manager

ACIS Search Profile Manager Architecture

Key SPM functions:

  • Multi-user search and search results management – each Client department can define its own look and feel and branding so the search results presented look exactly the same as the rest of the website style.
  • Define search profile and business rules – each Client department can define the search profile parameters that include ranking rules, what search views to use, and location of search results template etc.
  • Define default set of collections to search – all of the content that is indexed by the FAST search engine is typically organized into multiple logical collections based on content type, content sources or other role based business classification. Each department can decide which collections should be included in the search results based on relevance of its content to the end customers. For example: the sales department may be more interested in a collection that contains product brochure material while the support department might be more focused on technical specification and customer FAQs.
  • Formatting of search parameters – is a core function of SPM. The query language requires that the query string formatting follows a strict syntax. For advanced search implementations with multiple search parameters this can be a rather complex undertaking. The SPM query processor function is used to automatically format these search parameters. For installations with multiple departments, the efficiency that is achieved by implementing SPM can easily cost justify the licensing costs.
  • Formatting of search results – is a core function of SPM. Results returned from the FAST Query Server are formatted to meet each department’s search results presentation requirements.
  • Query keyword cleansing and malicious content filtering – an important function of the SPM is its provision of one centralized function for cleansing user query inputs to remove any injection of malicious or illegal characters. This enables organizations to conduct threat and penetration assessment only once and share this common function with all departments.
  • Selection and configuration of search widgets to be presented – faceted navigators, concept extractions, paging within search results, charts and histograms are among standard, configurable, search function widgets that can be turned on for each search profile.
  • Ranking and business rules – among the key benefits of owning an enterprise search engine is its function that enables users to decide what content should be ranked higher in the search results, based on business priorities. SPM offers a simple mechanism for each department to define its ranking and search results boosting rules. For example: This capability enables the Ministry of Health to return search results from its own website to be presented ahead of other content; without excluding results from other ministries as well.
  • Setup of authenticated search interface – for those search applications that index secure content and role based/authenticated access is required.