Well organized query result sets

A method of processing an abstract query, comprising:

• providing a data abstraction layer comprising (i) a plurality of logical fields, wherein each logical field specifies an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying database;
• (ii) a indication of one-to-one and one-to many relationships between the logical fields included in the plurality of logical fields;
• receiving, from a requesting entity, an abstract query composed from a plurality of logical fields;
• generating a data structure that indicates the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships among the plurality of logical fields included in the abstract query;
• retrieving a first set of query results for the abstract query from the underlying database;
• transforming the set of query results into a well organized set of query results according to the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships indicated by the data structure;
• and
• providing the second set of query results to an output formatter configured to format the query results according to the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships indicated by the data structure;
• and
• returning the formatted query results to the a requesting entity.

A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs operations, comprising:

• accessing a data abstraction layer comprising (i) a plurality of logical fields, wherein each logical field specifies an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying database;
• (ii) a indication of one-to-one and one-to many relationships between the logical fields included in the plurality of logical fields;
• receiving, from a requesting entity, an abstract query composed from a plurality of logical fields;
• generating a data structure that indicates the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships among the plurality of logical fields included in the abstract query;
• retrieving a first set of query results for the abstract query from the underlying database;
• transforming the set of query results into a well organized set of query results according to the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships indicated by the data structure;
• and
• providing the second set of query results to an output formatter configured to format the query results according to the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships indicated by the data structure;
• and
• returning the formatted query results to a requesting entity.

A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs operations, comprising:

• receiving, from a requesting an entity, an abstract query composed from a plurality of logical fields, wherein each logical field specifies (i) a name used to identify the logical field, and (ii) an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying database;
• retrieving a first set of query results for the abstract query from the underlying database;
• and
• transforming the first set of query results into a second set of query results wherein the second set of query results are organized according to a set of one-to-one and one-to-many relationships specified for the plurality of logical fields.