Searching and Accessing Software Application Functionality using Concepts

Abstract

Techniques include selecting function records. Each function record includes an application access mechanism (AAM), application state information (ASI), and a concept name. The AAM references a native application and indicates operations for the application to perform. The ASI describes a state of the application after the application has performed the operations. The concept name describes a concept associated with the ASI. In this example, selecting the function records includes selecting function records that have the same concept name. The techniques further include aggregating the ASI included in the selected function records, generating a new function record that includes the aggregated ASI, and generating a new AAM for the new function record. The techniques also include receiving a search query from a user device, identifying the new function record using the search query, selecting the new AAM from the new function record, and transmitting the new AAM to the user device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 selecting function records, each function record including an application access mechanism, application state information, and a concept name, wherein the application access mechanism references a native application and indicates one or more operations for the native application to perform, wherein the application state information describes a state of the native application after the native application has performed the one or more operations, wherein the concept name describes a concept associated with the application state information, and wherein selecting the function records comprises selecting function records that have the same concept name;   aggregating the application state information included in the selected function records;   generating a new function record that includes new application state information comprising the aggregated application state information;   generating a new application access mechanism for the new function record that is different than the application access mechanisms included in the selected function records;   receiving a search query from a user device;   identifying the new function record using the search query;   selecting the new application access mechanism from the new function record; and   transmitting the new application access mechanism to the user device.