Cursor-Based Pagination via a Generic Find Function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing database systems require substantial amounts of code to be written by application developers for handling cursor-based pagination, which is inefficient and time-consuming, and alternative pagination techniques like offset-based pagination have limitations and challenges.
Innovation Solution
A generic find function is implemented as part of an application development and deployment platform, enabling cursor-based pagination through database-agnostic query parameters, which maps to components for building a suitable query object, handles filtering and sorting of database records, and returns a cursor object and token for navigating query results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If application developers use traditional database systems with cursor-based pagination, then pagination functionality is achieved, but substantial amounts of code must be written by developers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the generic find function with database-agnostic query parameters) between the application developer and the database system. This intermediary automatically handles the complex cursor-based pagination logic, transforming simple parameter inputs into sophisticated database queries without requiring developers to write extensive code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal pagination mechanism that works across different database systems through database-agnostic query parameters. This multi-functional approach allows the same interface to handle cursor-based pagination for various database types, eliminating the need for database-specific implementation code.
2Reliability
If developers write extensive code for cursor-based pagination, then pagination functionality is achieved, but development time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service pagination capabilities where the generic find function automatically generates and executes cursor-based pagination queries without requiring developer intervention for code writing. The database-agnostic parameters self-configure the pagination logic, significantly reducing development time while maintaining reliable pagination functionality.
3Ease of operation
If offset-based pagination is used, then implementation is simpler, but it has limitations and challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter approach from offset-based (position-relative) to cursor-based (record-reference) pagination. By using database-agnostic query parameters that reference specific database records rather than positional offsets, the system achieves both implementation simplicity and pagination stability, overcoming the limitations of traditional offset-based methods.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for enabling cursor-based navigation of query results for any set of database records are described herein. One or more embodiments provide a generic find function for database applications, particularly, to facilitate cursor-based pagination of any query results. The generic find function returns, to the application, both a cursor object that points to a set of query results and a token for tracking the cursor's position while the application user navigates the query results. Specifically, the generic find function is part of an application framework that accepts, as input, a search parameter from an application user and identifies an appropriate pre-defined filter and a set of database-agnostic query parameters that map to the search parameter. The appropriate pre-defined filter may include a matching filter field value. The database application then calls the generic find function to build a query using the pre-defined filter and the set of query parameters.