System and method for sorting data records contained in a query result

• US 20060117032A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kolz, Daniel P., Dettinger, Richard D., Kulack, Frederick A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/838 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture for managing query results and, more particularly, for sorting data records contained in a query result obtained in response to execution of a query against a database. In one embodiment, the data records in the query result are sorted on the basis of related information which is retrieved from a corresponding data source. In another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a value variance which is determined for each of the data records in the query result. In still another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a requested value range coverage. In yet another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of suitability scores which are determined with respect to analysis routines which are configured for processing the query result.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of ordering query results, comprising:

in response to a query issued by a requesting entity;

receiving a list of data records ordered according to an initial order, the list of data records defining a result set for the query;

identifying an analysis routine configured for processing the result set of the query;

determining a suitability score for each data record in the list, the suitability score indicating a relative suitability of the data record as input to the identified analysis routine;

sorting the received list of data records on the basis of the determined suitability scores; and

inputting the sorted list of data records to the identified analysis routine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying row qualifiers, each indicating a possible input field of the identified analysis routine; and

wherein the suitability score of a given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the identified row qualifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the row qualifiers are identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each row qualifier is associated with a predetermined qualifier weight.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the method further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

comparing each result field of the data record with the possible input fields of the identified analysis routine to identify matching fields; and

counting the matching fields to determine the suitability score of the data record.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields;

and at least one of the row qualifiers associates a given possible input field of the identified analysis routine with a corresponding preferred input value, the method further comprising;

for each data record in the list;

determining a relative proximity between the preferred input value of the given possible input field and a corresponding value of a matching result field of the data record; and

wherein the suitability score of the given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the suitability score for the given data record on the basis of the determined relative proximities comprises:

ranking the data records in the list on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the row qualifiers are identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more other analysis routines configured for processing the result set of the query; and

before sorting the received list of data records, modifying the suitability score for each data record in the list on the basis of a relative suitability of the data record as input to each of the one or more other identified analysis routines.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the method further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

comparing each result field of the data record with the possible input fields of each of the one or more other identified analysis routines to identify matching fields; and

increasing the suitability score of the data record for each matching result field.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the issued query is one of an SQL and an XML query.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the issued query is an abstract query having one or more logical fields of a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in a database;

and wherein the data abstraction model is adapted for transforming the one or more logical fields of the abstract query into a form consistent with a physical representation of the data in the database.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the database is a server-side data source and the sorting is done by a client-side application.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the database is a server-side data source and the sorting is done by a server-side application.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a result set qualifier indicating a preferred range of input values for the identified analysis routine; and

wherein the suitability score of a given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the identified result set qualifier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the result set qualifier is identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the query is associated with a request for output of a predefined number of data records, the method further comprising:

determining a distribution of values spread over the preferred range of input values on the basis of the predefined number; and

creating a temporary row qualifier for each spread value of the determined distribution, each temporary row qualifier associating a possible input field of the identified analysis routine with a corresponding spread value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the method further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

determining a relative proximity between the spread value of a given possible input field and a corresponding value of a matching result field of the data record; and

wherein the suitability score of the given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the suitability score for the given data record on the basis of the determined relative proximities comprises:

ranking the data records in the list on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

identifying one or more other analysis routines configured for processing the result set of the query; and

before sorting the received list of data records, modifying the suitability score for each data record in the list on the basis of a relative suitability of the data record as input to each of the one or more other identified analysis routines.

21. A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs operations for ordering query results, the operations comprising:

in response to a query issued by a requesting entity;

receiving a list of data records ordered according to an initial order, the list of data records defining a result set for the query;

identifying an analysis routine configured for processing the result set of the query;

determining a suitability score for each data record in the list, the suitability score indicating a relative suitability of the data record as input to the identified analysis routine;

sorting the received list of data records on the basis of the determined suitability scores; and

inputting the sorted list of data records to the identified analysis routine.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying row qualifiers, each indicating a possible input field of the identified analysis routine; and

wherein the suitability score of a given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the identified row qualifiers.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the row qualifiers are identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein each row qualifier is associated with a predetermined qualifier weight.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the operations further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

comparing each result field of the data record with the possible input fields of the identified analysis routine to identify matching fields; and

counting the matching fields to determine the suitability score of the data record.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields;

and at least one of the row qualifiers associates a given possible input field of the identified analysis routine with a corresponding preferred input value, the operations further comprising;

for each data record in the list;

determining a relative proximity between the preferred input value of the given possible input field and a corresponding value of a matching result field of the data record; and

wherein the suitability score of the given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein determining the suitability score for the given data record on the basis of the determined relative proximities comprises:

ranking the data records in the list on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the row qualifiers are identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying one or more other analysis routines configured for processing the result set of the query; and

before sorting the received list of data records, modifying the suitability score for each data record in the list on the basis of a relative suitability of the data record as input to each of the one or more other identified analysis routines.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the operations further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

comparing each result field of the data record with the possible input fields of each of the one or more other identified analysis routines to identify matching fields; and

increasing the suitability score of the data record for each matching result field.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the issued query is one of an SQL and an XML query.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the issued query is an abstract query having one or more logical fields of a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in a database;

and wherein the data abstraction model is adapted for transforming the one or more logical fields of the abstract query into a form consistent with a physical representation of the data in the database.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the database is a server-side data source and the sorting is done by a client-side application.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the database is a server-side data source and the sorting is done by a server-side application.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a result set qualifier indicating a preferred range of input values for the identified analysis routine; and

wherein the suitability score of a given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the identified result set qualifier.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the result set qualifier is identified from metadata associated with the identified analysis routine.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the query is associated with a request for output of a predefined number of data records, the operations further comprising:

determining a distribution of values spread over the preferred range of input values on the basis of the predefined number; and

creating a temporary row qualifier for each spread value of the determined distribution, each temporary row qualifier associating a possible input field of the identified analysis routine with a corresponding spread value.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein each data record of the list of data records comprises one or more result fields, the operations further comprising:

for each data record in the list;

determining a relative proximity between the spread value of a given possible input field and a corresponding value of a matching result field of the data record; and

wherein the suitability score of the given data record in the list is determined on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining the suitability score for the given data record on the basis of the determined relative proximities comprises:

ranking the data records in the list on the basis of the determined relative proximities.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying one or more other analysis routines configured for processing the result set of the query; and

before sorting the received list of data records, modifying the suitability score for each data record in the list on the basis of a relative suitability of the data record as input to each of the one or more other identified analysis routines.

41. A computer system, comprising:

a requesting entity;

a plurality of analysis routines configured to process query results; and

a sorting program for ordering a query result obtained in response to a query issued by the requesting entity against a database, the sorting program being configured to;

receive a list of data records ordered according to an initial order, the list of data records defining a result set for the query;

identify an analysis routine configured for processing the result set of the query;

determine a suitability score for each data record in the list, the suitability score indicating a relative suitability of the data record as input to the identified analysis routine;

sort the received list of data records on the basis of the determined suitability scores; and

input the sorted list of data records to the identified analysis routine.