Patent ID: 7363303

Claim:
A method for implementing a front-end user sort request, the method comprising: receiving an XML list request object; decomposing said XML list request object in cache and repetitively creating a sort entry object in said cache for each row included in said XML list request object 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 colunm values in each of said sort entry objects in said cache, wherein a compare function of said sort routine is dependent upon information obtained from said decomposing said list request, said sort routing further comprising: determining the existence of one or more parent subsets within said first colunm of said list of column values in each of said sort entry objects; and sorting each parent subset within said first colunm using colunm 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 list request; rebuilding said XML list request object in accordance with the completion of said sort routine; and returning configured data to a front-end user in accordance with said user characteristics.