Working with two different object types within the generic search tool

An apparatus, comprising:

• a display;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:
• transfer a first set of search parameters from a first application to a generic search tool, the first set of search parameters to include an indication to search for a first type of object;
• search one or more databases to generate a first list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the first set of search parameters;
• return the first list of results to the first application;
• select one or more first type objects identified by object keys from the first list of object keys for processing;
• process the selected first type objects, wherein the processing includes invoking a second application to search the one or more database for objects having a second type of object;
• transfer a second set of search parameters from the second application to the generic search tool, the second set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the second type of object;
• store a copy of the first list of object keys in a buffer in response to the second set of search parameters being received by the generic search tool;
• search the one or more databases to generate a second list of object keys identifying objects of the second type as a function of the second set of search parameters;
• return the second list of results to the second application;
• select one or more second type objects identified by object keys from the second list of object keys for processing;
• further process the selected second type objects to modify a selected first type object based on the selected second type objects;
• transfer a third set of search parameters from the first application to the generic search tool, the third set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the first type of object;
• retrieve the copy from the buffer in response to determining that the third set of search parameters match the first set of search parameters;
• and
• search the one or more databases to generate a third list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the third set of search parameters in response to determining that the third set of search parameters do not match the first set of search parameters.

An article comprising a machine readable medium that stores machine-executable instructions that when applied to a machine, cause the machine to:

• transfer a first set of search parameters from a first application to a generic search tool, the first set of search parameters to include an indication to search for a first type of object;
• search one or more databases to generate a first list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the first set of search parameters;
• return the first list of results to the first application;
• select one or more first type objects identified by object keys from the first list of object keys for processing;
• process the selected first type objects, wherein the processing includes invoking a second application to search the one or more database for objects having a second type of object;
• transfer a second set of search parameters from the second application to the generic search tool, the second set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the second type of object;
• store a copy of the first list of object keys in a buffer in response to the second set of search parameters being received by the generic search tool;
• search the one or more databases to generate a second list of object keys identifying objects of the second type as a function of the second set of search parameters;
• return the second list of results to the second application;
• select one or more second type objects identified by object keys from the second list of object keys for processing;
• further process the selected second type objects to modify a selected first type object based on the selected second type objects;
• transfer a third set of search parameters from the first application to the generic search tool, the third set of search parameters to include an indication to search for the first type of object;
• retrieve the copy from the buffer in response to determining that the third set of search parameters match the first set of search parameters;
• and
• search the one or more databases to generate a third list of object keys identifying objects of the first type as a function of the third set of search parameters in response to determining that the third set of search parameters do not match the first set of search parameters.