An Analysis of the Performance Bottlenecks in the Federated Search Information Flow

Federated search technology can facilitate scientific discovery by providing one-stop access to a large number of information sources. However, performance bottlenecks and limitations in the ability to retrieve the most relevant results limit the benefits of this technology to DOE researchers, to other scientists, and to the public. This project will assess the performance of the entire federated search information flow, from the federated search engine, Explorit, to the content provider¿s search engine and back to Explorit. From this assessment, the major performance bottlenecks will be identified and approaches for reducing these bottlenecks will be recommended. In addition, documentation and tools will be developed to assist content providers in optimizing the performance of their search interfaces. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee Technology for reducing and eliminating bottlenecks in federated search should lead to market opportunities at national laboratories, major research-oriented universities, and the research departments of large corporations, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, oil and gas companies, legal research firms, and financial institutions.