Multi-Source Multi-Step Search in Enterprise Software Systems

A method comprising:

• receiving a first search query initiated by a user via a graphical user interface, the first search query identifying a customer and seeking one or more interaction records associated with the customer;
• associating the first search query with two or more data sources;
• generating a source-specific query for each data source using a data source definition associated with the corresponding data source and the search query;
• executing searches for a first set of data sources using the corresponding source-specific queries;
• first consolidating the search results from the first set of data sources;
• executing searches for a second set of data sources using the corresponding source-specific queries, the second set of data sources having a lower priority than the first set of data sources;
• and
• second consolidating the search results from the second set of data sources with the consolidated search results from the first set of data sources, wherein the second consolidating filter the consolidated search results from the first set of data sources.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a search query;
• associating the search query with two or more data sources;
• generating a source-specific query for each data source using a data source definition associated with the corresponding data source and the search query;
• executing searches for a first set of data sources using the corresponding source-specific queries;
• first consolidating the search results from the first set of data sources;
• executing searches for a second set of data sources using the corresponding source-specific queries;
• and
• second consolidating the search results from the second set of data sources with the consolidated search results from the first set of data sources;
• wherein at least one search comprises a main search followed by a sub-search, the sub-search filtering results from the main search.