Method and system for sharing documents between on-demand services

• US 20100076946A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, James, Levine, Jonathan, Barker, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A method for sharing documents between on-demand services is provided. In an embodiment, a user of a first on-demand service may be able to view a list of content that includes content stored at the first on-demand service and content stored at a second on-demand service. The content of the second on-demand service may be associated with information about the content, allowing the content to be shared among multiple users of the first on-demand service. The user wanting to view the content, select or click on an indicator identifying the content, a connection to the second on-demand service is established, and images of the content are sent from the second on-demand service to the first on-demand service.

Claims

1. A method for sharing documents and content between on-demand services comprising:

receiving, at a machine resident, first on-demand service, from a user machine, a user request to view a list of content that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service; and

sending from the first on-demand service the list of content, the list of content including at least content that is stored at the first on-demand service, and content that is stored at a machine resident, second on-demand service.

2. The method of claim 1, the first on-demand service sending a link to the user machine that opens a webpage showing at least content associated with the user including content located at the second on-demand service;

and

an option to publish the content located at the second on-demand service to a work space that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to view content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application;

in response, sending an image of a current portion of the document to which the document is opened, regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to edit content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application and the content requested being stored at the second on-demand service; and

in response, opening a connection to the second on-demand service;

opening the document; and

allowing the user to edit the document, regardless of whether the document is made to be viewed only with the particular application.

5. The method of claim 4, the allowing of the user to edit the document being regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

6. A method for sharing documents and content between on-demand services comprising:

at a machine resident, first on-demand service, receiving from a user machine a user request for content; and

sending from the first on-demand service content provided by a machine resident, second on-demand service, the content being associated with a content wrapper of the first on-demand service, the content wrapper enabling the content to be shared with multiple users of the first on-demand service.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending to the user an indicator indicating that the content of the second on-demand service is available at the first on-demand service.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a user interface (UI) by a first on-demand service;

including at least an indicator of the content of the second on-demand service on the UI of the first on-demand service;

receiving a user selection of content from the content that was associated, via the indicator; and

sending the selected associated content to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator has a link that is established without having to open the second on-demand database.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator includes a link, which when activated, opens a webpage for locating the content of the second on-demand service.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

through frame at the first on-demand service sending a selection to the second on-demand service receiving the user selection, from the second on-demand service, at the first on-demand service;

receiving the associated content from the second on-demand service at the first on-demand service; and

providing the selected associated content to the user via the UI of the first on-demand service.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising establishing the indicator including at least presenting one or more web pages to the user of the first on-demand service for gathering relational information that is associated with the content wrapper.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface (UI) of the first on-demand service is configured with a contribute page;

the method further comprising;

sending the contribute page to the user, wherein the contribute page provides the user with information on the content that is available for publishing to a shared workspace.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the sharing of the documents includes applying at least one process of the first on-demand service to at least one piece of content from the content in the second on-demand service.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first on-demand service and the second on-demand service are multi-tenant services.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the first multi-tenant service includes a multi-tenant database.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein in the event the user of the first on-demand service accesses the content of the second on-demand service, depending on the level of access of the content being accessed, the user may be prompted for login information prior to granting access to the user.

18. A computer readable medium storing thereon one or more instructions, which when implemented causes a processor to implement a method for sharing documents and content between on-demand services, the method comprising:

receiving, at a machine resident, first on-demand service, from a user machine, a user request to view a list of content that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service; and

sending from the first on-demand service the list of content, the list of content including at least

content that is stored at the first on-demand service, and content that is stored at a machine resident, second on-demand service.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the first on-demand service sending a link to the user machine that opens a webpage showing at least content associated with the user including content located at the second on-demand service;

and

an option to publish the content located at the second on-demand service to a work space that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising receiving a request to view content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application;

in response, sending an image of a current portion of the document to which the document is opened, regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising receiving a request to edit content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application and the content requested being stored at the second on-demand service;

in response opening a connection to the second on-demand service;

opening the document; and

allowing the user to edit the document, regardless of whether the document is made to be viewed only with the particular application.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, the allowing of the user to edit the document being regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

23. A computer readable medium storing thereon one or more instructions, which when implemented causes a processor to implement a method for sharing documents and content between on-demand services, the method comprising:

at a machine resident, first on-demand service, receiving from a user machine a user request for content; and

sending from the first on-demand service content provided by a machine resident, second on-demand service, the content being associated with a content wrapper of the first on-demand service, the content wrapper enabling the content to be shared with multiple users of the first on-demand service.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

sending to the user an indicator indicating that the content of the second on-demand service is available at the first on-demand service.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

generating a user interface (UI) by a first on-demand service;

including at least an indicator of the content of the second on-demand service on the UI of the first on-demand service;

receiving a user selection of content from the content that was associated, via the indicator; and

sending the selected associated content to the user.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

through a frame at the first on-demand service sending a selection to the second on-demand service;

receiving the user selection, from the second on-demand service, at the first on-demand service;

receiving the associated content from the second on-demand service at the first on-demand service; and

providing the selected associated content to the user via the UI of the first on-demand service.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the indicator includes a link, which when activated, opens a webpage for locating the content of the second on-demand service.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the link is established without having to open the second on-demand database.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising establishing the indicator including at least presenting one or more web pages to the user of the first on-demand service for gathering relational information that is associated with the content wrapper.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the user interface (UI) of the first on-demand service is configured with a contribute page;

the method further comprising;

sending the contribute page to the user, wherein the contribute page provides the user with information on the content that is available for publishing to a shared work space.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the sharing of the documents includes applying at least one process of the first on-demand service to at least one piece of content from the content in the second on-demand service.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first on-demand service and the second on-demand service are multi-tenant services.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first multi-tenant service includes a multi-tenant database.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein in the event the user of the first on-demand service accesses the content of the second on-demand service, depending on the level of access of the content being accessed, the user may be prompted for login information prior to granting access to the user.

35. A system for sharing documents and content between on-demand services, the system comprising:

a host system having

a processor system,

volatile memory, and

non-volatile memory;

the non-volatile memory including at least one machine readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which when implemented causes the processor system to implement a method comprising;

receiving, at a machine resident host system of a first on-demand service, from a user machine, a user request to view a list of content that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service; and

sending from the first on-demand service the list of content, the list of content including at least content that is stored at the first on-demand service, and content that is stored at a machine resident host system of a second on-demand service.

36. The system of claim 35, the first on-demand service sending a link to the user machine that opens a webpage showing at least content associated with the user including content located at the second on-demand service;

and

an option to publish the content located at the second on-demand service to a work space that is viewable by multiple users of the first on-demand service.

37. The system of claim 35, further comprising receiving a request to view content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application;

in response, sending an image of a current portion of the document to which the document is opened, regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising receiving a request to edit content in the list, the content requested being made with a particular application and the content requested being stored at the second on-demand service;

in response opening a connection to the second on-demand service;

opening the document; and

allowing the user to edit the document, regardless of whether the document is made to be viewed only with the particular application.

39. The system of claim 38, the allowing of the user to edit the document being regardless of whether the user machine has the particular application.

40. A system for sharing documents and content between on-demand services, the system comprising:

a host system having;

a processor system,

volatile memory, and

non-volatile memory;

the non-volatile memory including at least one machine readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which when implemented causes the processor system to implement a method comprising;

at a machine resident host system of a first on-demand service, receiving from a user machine a user request for content; and

sending from the first on-demand service content provided by a machine resident host system of a second on-demand service, the content being associated with a content wrapper of the first on-demand service, the content wrapper enabling the content to be shared with multiple users of the first on-demand service.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

sending to the user an indicator indicating that the content of the second on-demand service is available at the first on-demand service.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

generating a user interface (UI) by a first on-demand service;

including at least an indicator of the content of the second on-demand service on the UI of the first on-demand service;

receiving a user selection of content from the content that was associated, via the indicator; and

sending the selected associated content to the user.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the indicator includes a link, which when activated, opens a webpage for locating the content of the second on-demand service.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the link is established without having to open the second on-demand database.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises:

through a frame at the first on-demand service sending a selection to the second on-demand service;

receiving the user selection, from the second on-demand service, at the first on-demand service;

receiving the associated content from the second on-demand service at the first on-demand service; and

providing the selected associated content to the user via the UI of the first on-demand service.

46. The system of claim 42, further comprising establishing the indicator including at least presenting one or more web pages to the user of the first on-demand service for gathering relational information that is associated with the content wrapper.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the user interface (UI) of the first on-demand service is configured with a contribute page;

and the method further comprises;

sending the contribute page to the user, wherein the contribute page provides the user with information on the content that is available for publishing to a shared work space.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the sharing of the documents includes applying at least one process of the first on-demand service to at least one piece of content from the content in the second on-demand service.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of the first on-demand service and the second on-demand service are multi-tenant services.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first multi-tenant service includes a multi-tenant database.

51. The system of claim 40, wherein in the event the user of the first on-demand service accesses the content of the second on-demand service, depending on the level of access of the content being accessed, the user may be prompted for login information prior to granting access to the user.