US Patent 12007987 Sort optimization

A system and method for processing of queries including receiving a query including a set operation and a sort operation, wherein the set operation includes a first data structure and a second data structure and the sort operation requests a result set that is sorted based on a column or attribute of the first data structure and a column or attribute of the second data structure; generating a query plan in which a sort operation occurs prior to the set operation; determining a first, partial set of one or more resultant rows responsive to the query; sending the first, partial set of one or more resultant rows responsive to the query to a client; determining a second, partial set of one or more resultant rows responsive to the query; and sending the second, partial set of one or more resultant rows to the client.