Multi-column multi-data type internationalized sort extension method for web applications

• US 20050278327A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Phillips, Brent R., Cipriano, Peter F., Marappan, Kumar, Focazio, Robyn, Hobbs, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A method for implementing a front-end user sort request includes receiving a list request, decomposing the list request and creating a sort entry object using a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium. A sort routine is performed on at least a first column of the list of column values in the sort entry object, wherein a compare function of the sort routine is dependent upon information obtained from decomposing the list request. The list request is rebuilt in accordance with the completion of the sort routine.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a front-end user sort request, the method comprising:

receiving a list request;

decomposing said list request and creating a sort entry object using a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium;

performing a sort routine on at least a first column of said list of column values in said sort entry object, wherein a compare function of said sort routine is dependent upon information obtained from said decomposing said list request; and

rebuilding said list request in accordance with the completion of said sort routine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information obtained from said decomposing said list request further comprises at least one of:

user characteristics, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of a number of columns corresponding to said list request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating a sort entry object for each row of included in said list request; and

creating a master sort entry object list containing each of said created sort entry objects.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said sort routine further comprises:

determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first column of said list of column values; and

sorting each parent subset within said first column using column values from a next most significant column, wherein a compare function used for sorting said next most significant column is based upon user characteristics, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of said number of columns corresponding to said list request.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon completion of sorting a given parent subset, determining the existence of one or more child subsets within said given parent subset and sorting each determined child subset; and

upon completion of sorting of each of said determined child subsets, returning to the column containing said given parent subset to determine whether any further parent subsets are present.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said sort routine is based on a quicksort algorithm having a compare function thereof modified in accordance with said information obtained from said decomposing said list request.

7. A system for implementing a front-end user sort request, comprising:

a server configured for receiving a list request from a front-end device;

said server further including processing means for;

decomposing said list request and creating a sort entry object using a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium;

performing a sort routine on at least a first column of said list of column values in said sort entry object, wherein a compare function of said sort routine is dependent upon information obtained from said decomposing said list request; and

rebuilding said list request in accordance with the completion of said sort routine.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said information obtained by said server from said decomposing said list request further comprises at least one of:

user characteristics, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of a number of columns corresponding to said list request.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing means for decomposing said list request further comprises:

creating a sort entry object for each row of included in said list request; and

creating a master sort entry object list containing each of said created sort entry objects.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means for performing a sort routine further comprises:

determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first column of said list of column values; and

sorting each parent subset within said first column using column values from a next most significant column, wherein a compare function for said next most significant column is based upon user characteristics, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of said number of columns corresponding to said list request.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processing means for performing a sort routine further comprises:

upon completion of sorting a given parent subset, determining the existence of one or more child subsets within said given parent subset and sorting each determined child subset; and

upon completion of sorting of each of said determined child subsets, returning to the column containing said given parent subset to determine whether any further parent subsets are present.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said sort routine is based on a quicksort algorithm having a compare function thereof modified in accordance with said information obtained from said decomposing said list request.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein:

said server further comprises a web-based application; and

said front-end device further comprises a web browser.

14. A method for implementing a multiple data type sort request, the method comprising:

receiving a list request from a front-end user;

decomposing said list request and creating a sort entry object using a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium, and using a data type indicator contained within said list request;

performing a sort routine on said list of column values in said sort entry object, wherein a compare function of said sort routine is dependent said data type indicator;

rebuilding said list request in accordance with the completion of said sort routine; and

returning a rebuilt list request to said front-end user.

15. A method for implementing a multi-column sort request, the method comprising:

receiving a list request from a front-end user;

decomposing said list request to obtain a sort directions list for each column corresponding to said list request;

creating a sort entry object for each row corresponding to said list request, each said sort entry object containing a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium, and storing each said sort entry object in a master sort entry object list;

performing a sort routine on at least a first column of said list of column values in said sort entry objects, wherein a compare function of said sort routine is dependent upon said sort directions list and a current column index;

rebuilding said list request in accordance with the completion of said sort routine; and

returning a rebuilt list request to said front-end user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said sort routine further comprises:

determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first column of said list of column values; and

sorting each parent subset within said first column using column values from a next most significant column, wherein a compare function used for sorting said next most significant column is also dependent upon said sort directions list and said current column index.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

upon completion of sorting a given parent subset, determining the existence of one or more child subsets within said given parent subset and sorting each determined child subset; and

upon completion of sorting of each of said determined child subsets, returning to the column containing said given parent subset to determine whether any further parent subsets are present.