Patent ID: 8260769

Claim:
A method comprising: at a computer system comprising one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors so as to perform the method: receiving, from a client, a current search query including a query cursor corresponding to a prior search query, the query cursor corresponding to a location in a first set of one or more index portions used to perform the prior search query, wherein the current search query specifies a sort order that is different from a sort order of the prior search query; in response to the current search query: determining a plurality of components of the query cursor; generating a translated query cursor corresponding to the received search query using one or more of the components; identifying a location in a second set of one or more index portions to start performing the current search query based the translated query cursor; and generating a set of search results corresponding to the current search query by searching in the second set of index portions starting at the identified location; and sending, to the client, a representation of at least a portion of the set of search results.