Accessing datasets

A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory storage medium configured so as when executed by one or more processing units to perform a method comprising:

• generating a user interface comprising input means for a user to select at least one first dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access, each of the plurality of datasets having a plurality of data entries, each of the plurality of data entries having at least one key, the user interface being configured to receive a query from the user, the query defining an intended operation to be performed on data entries of the first dataset which specifies a target audience for the query, the target audience being a set of data entries to be subject to the query;
• receiving the query from the user via the user interface;
• selecting a candidate dataset from a plurality of candidate datasets;
• determining whether the selected candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance data entries of the target audience for performing the query, wherein the selected candidate dataset does not change the target audience, wherein enhancing the data entries comprises adding the data entries to a number of data entries in the target audience from the selected candidate dataset;
• if so, selecting the selected candidate dataset and the target audience to contribute to performance of the intended operation;
• if not, selecting a next candidate dataset from the plurality of candidate datasets and repeating the determining step;
• generating a filtered set of data entries comprising a subset of the data entries of the target audience or the plurality of candidate datasets;
• applying identifiers only of the filtered set of entries to the selected candidate dataset to search amongst the filtered set of entries for result data entries, and aggregate the result data entries;
• and
• returning, to the user via the user interface, data associated with the aggregated result data entries.

A computing device comprising a hardware controller configured to:

• generate a user interface comprising input means for a user to select at least one first dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access, each of the plurality of datasets having a plurality of data entries, each of the plurality of data entries having at least one key, the user interface being configured to receive a query from the user, the query defining an intended operation to be performed on data entries of the first dataset which specifies a target audience for the query, the target audience being a set of data entries to be subject to the query;
• receive the query from the user via the user interface;
• select a candidate dataset from a plurality of candidate datasets;
• determine whether the selected candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance data entries of the target audience for performing the query, wherein the selected candidate dataset does not change the target audience, wherein enhancing the data entries comprises adding the data entries to a number of data entries in the target audience from the selected candidate dataset;
• if so, select the selected candidate dataset and the target audience to contribute to performance of the intended operation;
• if not, select a next candidate dataset from the plurality of candidate datasets and repeating the determining step;
• generate a filtered set of data entries comprising a subset of the data entries of the target audience or the plurality of candidate datasets;
• apply identifiers only of the filtered set of entries to the selected candidate dataset to search amongst the filtered set of entries for result data entries, and aggregate the result data entries;
• and
• return, to the user via the user interface, data associated with the aggregated result data entries.