Comments on: Comparing the Local Onebox with the Maps business directory: an architectural view http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:27:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: IssacFrost http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262746 IssacFrost Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:25:34 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262746 Seems Erek knows his stuff. I went and contacted him as soon as I read this because I would love to host some of his articles on my site as well. I guess I was right when I wrote my article on how this world is heading into an era where computers along with databases are becoming increasingly common given Google Maps also makes extensive use of a database. Seems Erek knows his stuff. I went and contacted him as soon as I read this because I would love to host some of his articles on my site as well. I guess I was right when I wrote my article on how this world is heading into an era where computers along with databases are becoming increasingly common given Google Maps also makes extensive use of a database.

]]> By: Erek Dyskant http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262549 Erek Dyskant Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:33:02 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262549 @martijn When I'm researching a company I often glance at the job postings. It gives a good sense of how they work in ways that they won't otherwise publicize. @martijn
When I’m researching a company I often glance at the job postings. It gives a good sense of how they work in ways that they won’t otherwise publicize.

]]> By: martijn http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262533 martijn Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:13:01 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262533 @Erek didn't think of the job applications/community + useful resource of the actual software they use. clever thinking. And clear explanation of a possible set up, thx! @Erek didn’t think of the job applications/community + useful resource of the actual software they use. clever thinking. And clear explanation of a possible set up, thx!

]]> By: Erek Dyskant http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262505 Erek Dyskant Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:48:35 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262505 @Martin Thanks for bringing up BigTable. It really is a facinating read, and I enjoyed reading the paper again. Definitely possible that that's their data store, however while it describes the Google Earth implementation in detail, it doesn't mention the Local Business data anywhere in the discussion. It's well known from job postings and community participation that Google maintains substantial applications that use both Oracle and MySQL, and because of its relational nature, I think that the business directory is an application that'd be well suited to a general purpose database. So, essentially, it could be BigTable or it could be a normal RDBMS. Even if the raw data is stored in a regular database, there's a strong chance that the cached onebox results are stored in a blob in a BigTable row. @Martin
Thanks for bringing up BigTable. It really is a facinating read, and I enjoyed reading the paper again. Definitely possible that that’s their data store, however while it describes the Google Earth implementation in detail, it doesn’t mention the Local Business data anywhere in the discussion.

It’s well known from job postings and community participation that Google maintains substantial applications that use both Oracle and MySQL, and because of its relational nature, I think that the business directory is an application that’d be well suited to a general purpose database.

So, essentially, it could be BigTable or it could be a normal RDBMS. Even if the raw data is stored in a regular database, there’s a strong chance that the cached onebox results are stored in a blob in a BigTable row.

]]> By: Erek Dyskant http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262502 Erek Dyskant Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:26:07 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262502 @Miriam Thanks. Too kind. @Bethany Unfortunately the local search arena is still much like the wild west. Everyone knows it's important, but there aren't any hard fast rules. It'd really be nice if some simple things were published: The original data source, times that the listing was updated, the last time the data source was refreshed, etc. and if there were some degree of guaranteed customer service both to get listed if you're not, and to get fraudulent listings removed. @David Looking forward to seeing that if you publish it. @Miriam
Thanks. Too kind.

@Bethany
Unfortunately the local search arena is still much like the wild west. Everyone knows it’s important, but there aren’t any hard fast rules. It’d really be nice if some simple things were published: The original data source, times that the listing was updated, the last time the data source was refreshed, etc. and if there were some degree of guaranteed customer service both to get listed if you’re not, and to get fraudulent listings removed.

@David
Looking forward to seeing that if you publish it.

]]> By: martijn http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262498 martijn Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:06:58 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262498 Interesting read! Although I should note that I think Google uses BigTable as their DBMS on top of their own Google File System (short, GFS). read more about gfs here : http://labs.google.com/papers/gfs.html and BigTable http://labs.google.com/papers/bigtable.html in the paper about bigtable it actually states that google earth data is stored in that DBMS as well as web indexing. since the onebox is part of universal search and thus web indexing I would say it uses the same system. But, with a different dataset, like you said. Let me know what you think! Guest posts are interesting! Interesting read! Although I should note that I think Google uses BigTable as their DBMS on top of their own Google File System (short, GFS).

read more about gfs here : http://labs.google.com/papers/gfs.html
and BigTable http://labs.google.com/papers/bigtable.html

in the paper about bigtable it actually states that google earth data is stored in that DBMS as well as web indexing. since the onebox is part of universal search and thus web indexing I would say it uses the same system. But, with a different dataset, like you said.
Let me know what you think!

Guest posts are interesting!

]]> By: David Mihm http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262484 David Mihm Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:08:39 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262484 Erek, fabulous synopsis. This gives me the kick in the you-know-what I needed to arrange and publish the Local Search Ranking Factors contributors' thoughts on this subject. Erek, fabulous synopsis. This gives me the kick in the you-know-what I needed to arrange and publish the Local Search Ranking Factors contributors’ thoughts on this subject.

]]> By: Bethany Taylor http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262483 Bethany Taylor Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:01:32 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262483 Thanks for the insight. I work as a SEM manager and everything google and local seems to be up in smoke... this puts my thoughts a little more at ease; we all seem to be a little confused by the whole situation. Good read! Thanks for the insight. I work as a SEM manager and everything google and local seems to be up in smoke… this puts my thoughts a little more at ease; we all seem to be a little confused by the whole situation. Good read!

]]> By: Miriam http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/08/25/comparing-the-onebox-with-the-business-directory-an-architectural-view/comment-page-1/#comment-262476 Miriam Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:15:58 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=785#comment-262476 <i>Thus, the Local Onebox results are probably replicated from the Business Directory listings, but are stored at the full set of Google Locations</i> My gosh, it's fascinating just to read how you went about figuring this out, Erek, let alone reading your conclusions. I'm awed. Thank you for taking the time to explain this, and thanks to Mike for providing a place for you to share this information! Miriam Thus, the Local Onebox results are probably replicated from the Business Directory listings, but are stored at the full set of Google Locations

My gosh, it’s fascinating just to read how you went about figuring this out, Erek, let alone reading your conclusions. I’m awed. Thank you for taking the time to explain this, and thanks to Mike for providing a place for you to share this information!

Miriam

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