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

• US 7,499,920 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• 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: Focazio, Robyn, Phillips, Brent R, Cipriano, Peter F, Hobbs, Stephen, Marappan, Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOFMAN, ALEX N
• Application Number:
  US12/028,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24537 of operators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A method for implementing a web-based, front-end user request includes receiving a list request from a front-end user, and receiving user characteristics associated with the list request. Data corresponding to the list request is retrieved from a data storage medium, and the retrieved data is configured in accordance with the user characteristics. The configured data is returned to the front-end user in accordance with the user characteristics.

Claims

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

a server configured for receiving an XML list request object from a front-end device, and for receiving user characteristics associated with said XML list request object;

said server further including processing means for;

retrieving data corresponding to said XML list request object from a data storage medium;

configuring said retrieved data in accordance with said user characteristics by implementing a sort routine on said retrieved data in accordance with a collation corresponding to said user characteristics, regardless of the locale of said data storage medium, wherein said implementing a sort routine further comprises;

decomposing, in cache, said XML list request objects and repetitively creating a plurality of sort entry objects in said cache using a list of column values initially retrieved from said 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;

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

rebuilding said XML list request object in accordance with the completion of said sort operation; and

returning configured data to said front-end device in accordance with said user characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user characteristics are included within said XML list request object.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said user characteristics include a language code and a country code.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said XML list request object further comprises at least one of:

a sort request and a query.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said implementing a sort routine further comprises:

storing each of the sort entry objects in a master sort list, the master sort list including a separate sort entry object for each row corresponding to said XML list request object, with each sort entry object including a list of column values per row.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said sort operation is based on a quicksort algorithm having said compare function modified in accordance with said information obtained from said decomposing said XML list request object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said server further comprises a web-based application; and

said front-end device further comprises a web browser.