Method and system for managing a document search index

A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) comprising instructions that enable a system for managing a document search index to:

• obtain indexing terms for documents in a document repository to generate a plurality of search index fragments;
• store the plurality of search index fragments in the document search index;
• construct a hierarchical structure from a first plurality of stored search index fragments, wherein the first plurality of stored search index fragments is arranged by size in the hierarchical structure and wherein the hierarchical structure comprises at least one virtual element that connects at least two of the first plurality of stored search index fragments in the hierarchical structure;
• select, based on a minimal size, a second plurality of stored search index fragments from the hierarchical structure;
• merge the second plurality of stored search index fragments to obtain a larger search index fragment, wherein the at least one virtual element comprises the larger search index fragment;
• store the larger search index fragment in the document search index;
• and
• serve at least one search request using the larger search index fragment.

A system for managing a document search index, the system comprising:

• a document management service;
• and
• a repository server comprising a document repository and the document search index;
• wherein the document management service:
• obtains indexing terms for documents in the document repository to generate a plurality of search index fragments;
• store the plurality of search index fragments in the document search index;
• construct a hierarchical structure from a first plurality of stored search index fragments, wherein the selected first plurality of stored search index fragments is arranged by size in the hierarchical structure and wherein the hierarchical structure comprises at least one virtual element that connects at least two of the first plurality of stored search index fragments in the hierarchical structure;
• select, based on a minimal size, a second plurality of stored search index fragments from the hierarchical structure;
• merge the second plurality of stored search index fragments to obtain a larger search index fragment, wherein the at least one virtual element comprises the larger search index fragment;
• store the larger search index fragment in the document search index;
• and
• serve at least one search request using the larger search index fragment.