METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING A GROUP OF INSTRUCTIONS TO METADATA

• US 20080082504A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Eidson, Bill, Jasik, Benji, Fell, Simon, Viripaeff, Lexi
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for applying a group of instructions to metadata in the context of an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for applying a group of instructions to metadata can enable embodiments that ensure that “all or none” of the operations corresponding to the grouped instructions are performed. The ability of embodiments to provide such feature can prevent a scenario where only a portion of a desired effect is accomplished which, in turn, may complicate any effort to undo the same.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a group of instructions indicating at least one operation to be performed on a plurality of instances of metadata associated with an environment of a subscriber of an on-demand database service; and

conditionally performing the at least one operation on the instances of metadata associated with the environment of the subscriber, based on whether at least one of the instructions is permissible.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one operation is not performed on the instances of metadata if at least one of the instructions is impermissible.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the group is defined by the subscriber.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one operation is performed on the instances of metadata associated with the environment of the subscriber asynchronously with respect to at least one other operation performed by the subscriber using the on-demand database service.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the group of instructions is received utilizing an application program interface (API).

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one operation includes at least one of creating, adding, deleting, updating, and status checking.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes at least one of a configuration, an object, a field, and a value associated with the environment.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein it determined whether at least one of the instructions is permissible based on a plurality of rules.

9. A method of claim 1, and further comprising updating values associated with the metadata.

10. A method of claim 1, and further comprising sending a confirmation message to the subscriber, in response to the receipt of the group of instructions.

11. A method of claim 1, and further comprising receiving a status request from the subscriber.

12. A method of claim 11, and further comprising sending a status message to the subscriber, in response to the receipt of the status request.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the status message is conditionally sent to the subscriber, based on a time period within which the status request is received.

14. A method of claim 1, and further comprising processing the group of instructions.

15. A method of claim 14, wherein the processing includes determining whether the group of instructions accompanies an asynchronous request.

16. A method of claim 15, and further comprising determining whether a processing capacity is available, if it is determined that the group of instructions accompanies an asynchronous request.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the group of instructions is processed in real-time, if it is determined that the processing capacity is available.

18. A method of claim 16, and further comprising queuing the group of instructions for processing, if it is determined that the processing capacity is unavailable.

19. A method of claim 1, wherein the on-demand database service includes a multi-tenant database system.

20. A machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

processing a group of instructions indicating at least one operation to be performed on a plurality of instances of metadata associated with an environment of a subscriber of an on-demand database service; and

conditionally performing the at least one operation on the instances of metadata associated with the environment of the subscriber, based on whether at least one of the instructions is permissible.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

processing a group of instructions indicating at least one operation to be performed on a plurality of instances of metadata associated with an environment of a subscriber of an on-demand database service; and

conditionally performing the at least one operation on the instances of metadata associated with the environment of the subscriber, based on whether at least one of the instructions is permissible.

22. A method for transmitting code in a multi-tenant database system on a transmission medium, the method comprising:

transmitting code to process a group of instructions indicating at least one operation to be performed on a plurality of instances of metadata associated with an environment of a subscriber of an on-demand database service; and

transmitting code to conditionally perform the at least one operation on the instances of metadata associated with the environment of the subscriber, based on whether at least one of the instructions is permissible.