Multi-Column Multi-Data Type Internationalized Sort Extension For Web applications

• US 20080133527A1
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• 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 7,502,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/7
• 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 system for implementing a front-end user sort request, comprising:

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

said server further including processing means for;

decomposing said XML list request object in cache and repetitively creating a sort entry object in said cache for each row included in said list request using a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium and prepared for use in a set of sort entry objects in said cache, with each sort entry object including a row and one or more column values associated with the row;

creating a master sort entry object list in said cache containing each of said created sort entry objects, wherein the master sort entry object list includes a separate sort entry object for each row corresponding to said XML list request object;

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

determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first column of said list of column values in each of said sort entry objects; 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 included in said sort entry objects, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of said number of columns corresponding to said XML list request object; and

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

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said information obtained by said server from said decomposing said XML list request object 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 system of claim 1, 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.

4. The system 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 XML list request object.

5. The system of claim, wherein:

said server further comprises a web-based application; and

said front-end device further comprises a web browser.

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

receiving an XML list request object from a front-end user;

decomposing said XML list request object in cache to obtain a sort directions list for each column corresponding to said list request;

repetitively creating a sort entry object in said cache for each row corresponding to said XML list request object, each said sort entry object containing a list of column values initially retrieved from a data storage medium and prepared for use in a set of sort entry objects in said cache, with each sort entry object including a row and one or more column values associated with the row;

creating a master sort entry object list in said cache containing each of said created sort entry objects, wherein the master sort entry object list includes a separate sort entry object for each row corresponding to said XML list request object;

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

determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first column of said list of column values in each of said sort entry objects; 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 included in said sort entry objects, a sort directions list, and a data type list for each of said number of columns corresponding to said XML list request object;

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

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

7. The method of claim 6, 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.