Patent ID: 7908264

Claim:
A method for providing the appearance of a single data repository for queries initiated in a system incorporating distributed member server groups comprising: distributing a dataset to a plurality of data repositories; performing a query at the plurality of data repositories for a first number of satisfying records equal to a maximum number of displayable records, wherein a total number of records in the dataset satisfying the query is greater than the returned set of satisfying records; displaying the first number of satisfying records returned by the first query in a page; displaying a plurality of links to additional pages, wherein each link represents another number of satisfying records in the dataset other than the first number of satisfying records returned by the first query; establishing a location of each number of satisfying records in the dataset other than the returned set of satisfying records based on meta data of the first number of satisfying records returned by the first query; performing a second query upon selection of a link, the second query for a second number of satisfying records equal to the maximum number of displayable records, the second query returning the second number of satisfying records from the plurality of data repositories using the established location, wherein the second number of satisfying records is equal to at most the first number of satisfying records; and discarding an excess number of satisfying records, wherein the excess number of satisfying records is equal to the difference between one of the first or second number of satisfying records and a maximum number of satisfying records displayable on each page; identifying a subsequent query starting point from information related to the second number of satisfying records, including: modifying information associated with a location of the second number of satisfying records, the information including satisfying record metadata; wherein the satisfying record metadata includes at least one of a last member identifier, a last member record location identifier, or a data repository identifier; identifying a next record location at each of the plurality of data repositories from the modified satisfying record metadata; and beginning a next query at the next record location at each of the plurality of data repositories.