Working with two different object types within the generic search tool

• US 7,610,275 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Zaichenko, Alexander, Sala, Paola, Gurevich, Elena
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): MINCEY, JERMAINE A
• Application Number:
  US11/317,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/101, 707/100, 705/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A computer implemented method of carrying out a search of one or more databases on the basis of a search request from one or more applications, the method comprising: carrying out a first search of the one or more databases for objects having a first object type on the basis of a search request from one of the one or more applications; providing the one of the one or more applications with a first list of results; making a copy of the results of the first search; saving the copy of the results of the first search in a buffer; carrying out a second search of the one or more databases for objects having a second object type on the basis of a search request from the one of the one or more applications; providing the one of the one or more applications with a second list of results; restoring to the one of the one or more applications the first list of results from the buffer.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

transferring a first set of search parameters from a first application to a generic search tool, the first set of search parameters to include an indication to search for a first type of object;

searching one or more databases to generate a first list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the first set of search parameters;

returning the first list of results to the first application;

selecting one or more first type objects identified by object keys from the first list of object keys for processing;

processing the selected first type objects, wherein the processing includes invoking a second application to search the one or more database for objects having a second type of object;

transferring a second set of search parameters from the second application to the generic search tool, the second set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the second type of object;

storing a copy of the first list of object keys in a buffer in response to the second set of search parameters being received by the generic search tool;

searching the one or more databases to generate a second list of object keys identifying objects of the second type as a function of the second set of search parameters;

returning the second list of results to the second application;

selecting one or more second type objects identified by object keys from the second list of object keys for processing;

further processing the selected second type objects to modify a selected first type object based on the selected second type objects;

transferring a third set of search parameters from the first application to the generic search tool, the third set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the first type of object;

retrieving the copy from the buffer in response to determining that the third set of search parameters match the first set of search parameters; and

searching the one or more databases to generate a third list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the third set of search parameters in response to determining that the third set of search parameters do not match the first set of search parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the first and second results lists on a display such that a user can select from at least one of the first and second lists of results, a result to be processed.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein processing and further processing of the selected objects are in accordance with actions provided on the display.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the search request includes a search parameter defining a structure of at least one of the first and second list of results.

5. A method according to claim 1, including providing one or more object keys to the first or second application to identify the object type.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a user requests in the first application that the first result list be restored.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein processing and further processing of the selected objects are in accordance with actions provided on the display.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a display;

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

transfer a first set of search parameters from a first application to a generic search tool, the first set of search parameters to include an indication to search for a first type of object;

search one or more databases to generate a first list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the first set of search parameters;

return the first list of results to the first application;

select one or more first type objects identified by object keys from the first list of object keys for processing;

process the selected first type objects, wherein the processing includes invoking a second application to search the one or more database for objects having a second type of object;

transfer a second set of search parameters from the second application to the generic search tool, the second set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the second type of object;

store a copy of the first list of object keys in a buffer in response to the second set of search parameters being received by the generic search tool;

search the one or more databases to generate a second list of object keys identifying objects of the second type as a function of the second set of search parameters;

return the second list of results to the second application;

select one or more second type objects identified by object keys from the second list of object keys for processing;

further process the selected second type objects to modify a selected first type object based on the selected second type objects;

transfer a third set of search parameters from the first application to the generic search tool, the third set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the first type of object;

retrieve the copy from the buffer in response to determining that the third set of search parameters match the first set of search parameters; and

search the one or more databases to generate a third list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the third set of search parameters in response to determining that the third set of search parameters do not match the first set of search parameters.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the first and second results lists on the display such that a user can select from at least one of the first and second lists of results, a result to be processed.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the search request includes a search parameter defining a structure of at least one of the first and second list of results.

11. A method according to claim 7, including providing one or more object keys to the first or second application to identify the object type.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein a user requests in the first application that the first result list be restored.

13. An article comprising a machine readable medium that stores machine-executable instructions that when applied to a machine, cause the machine to:

transfer a first set of search parameters from a first application to a generic search tool, the first set of search parameters to include an indication to search for a first type of object;

search one or more databases to generate a first list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the first set of search parameters;

return the first list of results to the first application;

select one or more first type objects identified by object keys from the first list of object keys for processing;

process the selected first type objects, wherein the processing includes invoking a second application to search the one or more database for objects having a second type of object;

transfer a second set of search parameters from the second application to the generic search tool, the second set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the second type of object;

store a copy of the first list of object keys in a buffer in response to the second set of search parameters being received by the generic search tool;

search the one or more databases to generate a second list of object keys identifying objects of the second type as a function of the second set of search parameters;

return the second list of results to the second application;

select one or more second type objects identified by object keys from the second list of object keys for processing;

further process the selected second type objects to modify a selected first type object based on the selected second type objects;

transfer a third set of search parameters from the first application to the generic search tool, the third set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the first type of object;

retrieve the copy from the buffer in response to determining that the third set of search parameters match the first set of search parameters; and

search the one or more databases to generate a third list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the third set of search parameters in response to determining that the third set of search parameters do not match the first set of search parameters.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the first and second results lists on a display such that a user can select from at least one of the first and second lists of results, a result to be processed.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein processing and further processing of the selected objects are in accordance with actions provided on the display.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the search request includes a search parameter defining a structure of at least one of the first and second list of results.

17. A method according to claim 13, including providing one or more object keys to the first or second application to identify the object type.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein a user requests in the first application that the first result list be restored.