User displays using n-way paginated merge of information from diverse sources

Abstract

Identifying a set of information sources from a plurality of N diverse information sources, then, responsive to user input, retrieving a first set of data items from a first information source after determining a first extent of information retrieval, and retrieving a second set of data items from the second information source after determining a second extent of information retrieval and so on for all of the N diverse information sources. The extents of the retrieval comprise at most a number of data items specified by a user (e.g., corresponding to a page size). The method continues by sorting all of the N set of data items fetched from the diverse sources in Round Robin fashion until at least a specific number of elements are merged for generating a paged, sorted set of data items to be displayed in a paginated format.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for high-performance rendering of displays using N-way paginated merging of information from a plurality of N information sources, the method comprising:
 classifying a user input received from a user interface device;   determining required data extents based on the user input and user requested characteristics;   fetching a selected first portion of information from a first source from a plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents;   fetching a selected second portion of information from a second source from the plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents; and   merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion based on the user requested characteristics to generate an amalgamated sorted set of data items for display in a paginated format.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining required data extents includes determining a first extent of information retrieval calculated based at least partially on saved values from a previously-determined first extent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a number of data items retrieved. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a count of data items representing a total count of data items reported by the first source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the required data extents. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion in a Round Robin fashion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the selected first portion and the selected second portion. 
     
     
         8 . A computer system for high-performance rendering of a multi-page display using paginated merging of information from a plurality of N information sources, comprising:
 a computer processor to execute a set of program code instructions; and   a memory to hold the program code instructions, in which the program code instructions comprises program code to perform,   classifying a user input received from a user interface device;   determining required data extents based on the user input and user requested characteristics;   fetching a selected first portion of information from a first source from a plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents;   fetching a selected second portion of information from a second source from the plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents; and   merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion based on the user requested characteristics to generate an amalgamated sorted set of data items for display in a paginated format.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein determining required data extents includes determining a first extent of information retrieval calculated based at least partially on saved values from a previously-determined first extent. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a number of data items retrieved. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a count of data items representing a total count of data items reported by the first source. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 8 , further comprising storing the required data extents. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 8 , further comprising merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion in a Round Robin fashion. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying the selected first portion and the selected second portion. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a method to implement high-performance rendering of a multi-page display using paginated merging of information from a plurality of N information sources, the method comprising:
 classifying a user input received from a user interface device;   determining required data extents based on the user input and user requested characteristics;   fetching a selected first portion of information from a first source from a plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents;   fetching a selected second portion of information from a second source from the plurality of N information sources, based on the required data extents; and   merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion based on the user requested characteristics to generate an amalgamated sorted set of data items for display in a paginated format.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein determining required data extents includes determining a first extent of information retrieval calculated based at least partially on saved values from a previously-determined first extent. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a number of data items retrieved. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the saved values from a previously-determined first extent comprise at least a count of data items representing a total count of data items reported by the first source. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising merging the selected first portion and the selected second portion in a Round Robin fashion. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising displaying the selected first portion and the selected second portion.