protected function _setSortingParameters()
    {
        $sSortingParameters = $this->getViewParameter('sorting');
        if ($sSortingParameters) {
            list($sSortBy, $sSortDir) = explode('|', $sSortingParameters);
            $this->setItemSorting($this->getSortIdent(), $sSortBy, $sSortDir);
        }
    }