Natural Ordering API Sorting for Data Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems lack efficient methods for sorting data objects based on string properties using natural ordering, which can lead to unexpected results due to individual digit comparison rather than treating series of digits as a single numeric value.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method within data storage systems to transform requests into database queries that include sorting criteria, specifically treating every series of digits as a single numeric value for natural ordering, thereby performing default sorting as part of the data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard string sorting is used to sort data objects, then sorting can be performed using simple character comparison, but the sorting results are unexpected and not intuitive because individual digits are compared as characters rather than numeric values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the sorting parameter from standard string comparison to natural ordering by detecting series of digits within strings and treating them as single numeric values. This parameter change allows the sorting to produce intuitive results (e.g., 'item10' comes after 'item2') while maintaining the efficiency of database-level sorting operations.
2Ease of operation
If natural ordering with digit series treatment is implemented, then sorting results become intuitive and accurate, but the processing complexity increases due to additional digit detection and transformation logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing the sort key to identify and replace series of digits with unique placeholder tokens before passing to the database sorting function. This preliminary transformation enables the database to perform natural ordering without requiring complex custom sorting logic, thereby reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining sorting intuitiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (placeholder token system) that bridges standard string sorting and natural ordering. By replacing digit series with placeholders and using a composite sort key format, the system enables intuitive natural ordering through standard database sorting operations without requiring complex custom sorting algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If sorting is performed at the application layer, then natural ordering logic can be fully implemented, but data retrieval efficiency decreases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary placeholder token system enables natural ordering to be implemented at the database layer rather than the application layer. The sort key transformation with placeholders allows the database's efficient native sorting to produce intuitively correct results, thereby maintaining both sorting accuracy and data retrieval efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the sort parameter format to include placeholder tokens that represent digit series, the system enables the database to perform natural ordering using its efficient native sorting algorithms. This parameter transformation allows sorting to occur at the database layer with the same efficiency as standard sorting, eliminating the need for slower application-layer processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are techniques for request processing. A request may be received from a requester for first data to be returned to the requester. The request may be in accordance with an application programming interface. The first data may include a plurality of objects each including a value for a first property. The request may include a parameter of the application programming interface indicating to return the plurality of objects sorted in accordance with natural ordering based on the first property of each of the plurality of objects. The natural ordering may be performed as the default ordering. With natural ordering, one or more consecutive digits in a string are treated as a single numeric value rather than individual characters. First processing may be performed to service the request and obtain the first data. A response, including the first data, may be generated in accordance with the first processing.