Method and system for providing in-line scheduling in an on-demand service

• US 20100088636A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Yerkes, Rowland W., Swinson, Ian P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/809
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing in-line scheduling in an on-demand service in a database system. These mechanisms and methods for providing in-line scheduling can enable embodiments to provide a multi-tenant database that stores client scheduling information, client customer contact information, and enables drag and drop event scheduling. In a multi-tenant database, a system for managing client customer contact information and event scheduling is established, which may be useful for a tenant that is a salesperson or that employs salespersons. The multi-tenant database may include a combined view application that provides for the simultaneous display of a calendar view and list view of contact information. The multi-tenant database may further include drag and drop functionality, allowing list view information to be dragged and dropped onto the calendar view for event scheduling. The ability of embodiments to provide drag and drop inline event scheduling can enable efficient calendaring of events by rapidly transferring relevant information onto a calendar.

Claims

1. A method for providing in-line scheduling in an on-demand service in a machine resident database system for a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

receiving at a machine resident database system, a request from a user machine to schedule an event by at least receiving information generated from a combined view, showing a calendar view in combination with a view showing information stored by the tenant, the view showing information stored by the tenant and the calendar view being distinct from one another and selectable via the same window;

scheduling, by the machine resident database system, the event based on the request to schedule the event; and

sending to the user machine an updated calendar view reflecting the scheduling of the event.

2. The method of claim 1, the view showing information stored by the tenant is a list view, the list view being information presented and organized into a series of lists or columns.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for the view showing information;

after receiving the request for the view showing information,

sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system, and

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view; and

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the view are viewable simultaneously within a single window.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the receiving of the request including at least receiving information associated with a pointing device performing a selection action at a first location within a region having the view showing information stored by the tenant, moving to a second location within a region having the calendar view, and performing a selection action at the second location; and

the scheduling of the event being based on the information associated with the pointing device that was received.

5. The method of claim 1, the request from the user includes:

receiving drag and drop information that is indicative of the information related to when to schedule the event and information from the view showing information that is to be associated with the event.

6. The method of claim 1, the request from the user includes a request for a combined view in which the calendar view is viewable in-line with the view showing information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with information from the view showing information.

8. The method of claim 1, the calendar view being a weekly view, which includes a view showing one week including each day of the week.

9. The method of claim 1, the calendar view being a daily view, which includes a view of a day showing hours within the day.

10. The method of claim 1, the calendar view including an option to advance the calendar view in time and reverse the calendar view in time.

11. The method of claim 1, the view showing information about accounts.

12. The method of claim 1, the view showing information about contacts.

13. The method of claim 1, the view showing information having information about sales leads.

14. The method of claim 1, access to the calendar view being restricted by first requiring receipt of the request for the view showing information and then sending the view showing information in response.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views, showing information associated with a client of the tenant, that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views, the link to the calendar view being provided with the views showing information no matter which of the group of views was selected.

16. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for a view showing information;

after the receiving of the request for the view showing information, sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system;

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view;

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the view are viewable simultaneously within a single window;

providing a drag and drop feature for event scheduling, the information generated from the view showing information being generated as a result of the drag and drop feature;

the request to schedule an event includes receiving drag and drop view information;

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with list view information; and

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views showing information that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views showing information, the link to the calendar view being provided with the view showing information no matter which of the group of views showing information was selected.

17. A method for in-line scheduling in an on-demand service by a client of a machine resident database system for a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

sending to a machine resident database system, a request from a user machine to schedule an event by at least sending information generated from a combined view, showing a calendar view in combination with a view showing information stored by the tenant, the view showing information stored by the tenant and the calendar view being distinct from one another and selectable via the same window; and

receiving at the user machine an updated calendar view reflecting a scheduling of an event;

the scheduling of the event being based on the request to schedule the event.

18. A machine-readable medium storing thereon one or more instructions, which when implemented cause a processor to implement a method for providing in-line scheduling in an on-demand service in a machine resident database system for a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

receiving at a machine resident database system, a request from a user machine to schedule an event by at least receiving information generated from a combined view, showing a calendar view in combination with a view showing information stored by the tenant, the view showing information stored by the tenant and the calendar view being distinct from one another and selectable via the same window;

scheduling, by the machine resident database system, the event based on the request to schedule the event; and

sending to the user machine an updated calendar view reflecting the scheduling of the event to the user machine.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the view showing information stored by the tenant is a list view, the list view being information presented and organized into a series of lists or columns.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for a view showing information;

after receiving the request for the view showing information,

sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system,

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view; and

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the view are viewable simultaneously within a single window.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

the receiving of the request including at least receiving information associated with a pointing device performing a selection action at a first location within a region having the view showing information stored by the tenant, moving to a second location within a region having the calendar view, and performing a selection action at the second location; and

the scheduling of the event being based on the information associated with the pointing device that was received.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, the request to schedule an event includes:

receiving drag and drop information that is indicative of the information related to when to schedule the event and information from the view showing information that is to be associated with the event.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, the request from the user includes a request for a combined view in which the calendar view is viewable in-line with the view showing information.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with information from the view showing information.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the calendar view being a weekly view, which includes a view showing a week including each day of the week.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the calendar view being a daily view, which includes a view of a day showing hours within the day.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the calendar view including an option to advance the calendar view in time and reverse the calendar view in time.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the view showing information about accounts.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the view showing information about contacts.

30. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the view showing information about sales leads.

31. The machine readable medium of claim 18, access to the calendar view being restricted by first requiring receipt of a request for the view showing information and sending the view showing information in response.

32. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views showing information that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views, the link to the calendar view being provided with the view showing information no matter which of the group of views showing information was selected.

33. The machine readable medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for a view showing information;

after the receiving of the request for the view showing information, sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system;

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view;

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the views are viewable simultaneously within a single window;

providing a drag and drop feature for event scheduling, the information generated from the view showing information being generated as a result of the drag and drop feature;

the request to schedule an event includes receiving drag and drop view information;

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with list view information; and

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views showing information that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views showing information, the link to the calendar view being provided with the view showing information no matter which of the group of views showing information was selected.

34. A machine resident database system for providing in-line scheduling of an event to a user of a tenant in a multi-tenant database system, the database system comprising:

a processor system, and

a memory system;

the memory system 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 database system, a request from a user machine to schedule an event by at least receiving information generated from a combined view, showing a calendar view in combination with a view showing information stored by the tenant, the view showing information stored by the tenant and the calendar view being distinct from one another and selectable via the same window;

scheduling, by the machine resident database system, the event based on the request to schedule the event; and

sending to the user machine an updated calendar view reflecting the scheduling of the event.

35. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the view showing information stored by the tenant is a list view, the list view being information presented and organized into a series of lists or columns.

36. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the method further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for a view showing information;

after receiving the request for the view showing information,

sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system,

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view; and

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the view are viewable simultaneously within a single window.

37. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the method further comprising:

the receiving of the request including at least receiving information associated with a pointing device performing a selection action at a first location within a region having the view showing information stored by the tenant, moving to a second location within a region having the calendar view, and performing a selection action at the second location; and

the scheduling of the event being based on the information associated with the pointing device that was received.

38. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the request to schedule an event includes:

receiving drag and drop information that is indicative of the information related to when to schedule the event and information from the view showing information that is to be associated with the event.

39. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the request from the user includes a request for a combined view in which the calendar view is viewable in-line with the view showing information.

40. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the method further comprising:

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with information from the view showing information.

41. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the calendar view being a weekly view, which includes a view showing a week including each day of the week.

42. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the calendar view being a daily view, which includes a view of a day showing hours within the day.

43. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the calendar view including an option to advance the calendar view in time and reverse the calendar view in time.

44. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the view showing information about accounts.

45. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the view showing information about contacts.

46. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the view showing information about sales leads.

47. The machine resident database system of claim 34, access to the calendar view being restricted by first requiring receipt of a request for the view showing information and sending the view showing information in response.

48. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the method further comprising:

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views showing information that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views, the link to the calendar view being provided with the list view no matter which of the group of views showing information was selected.

49. The machine resident database system of claim 34, the method further comprising:

receiving at the machine resident database system a request for a view showing information;

after the receiving of the request for the view showing information, sending the view showing information for display to a user machine of a tenant of the machine resident database system;

providing a link to the calendar view with the view showing information;

receiving, at the machine resident database system, a request for the calendar view by at least receiving a selection of the link to the calendar view;

after receiving the request for the calendar view and prior to receiving the request to schedule the event, sending the calendar view for display in-line with the view showing information, where views that are for display in-line refers to views being displayed such that the view are viewable simultaneously within a single window;

providing a drag and drop feature for event scheduling, the information generated from the view showing information being generated as a result of the drag and drop feature;

the request to schedule an event includes receiving drag and drop view information;

sending a dialogue box requesting event details in response to the request to schedule an event, the dialogue box having empty fields and fields automatically filled in with list view information; and

sending to the user machine a group of links to a corresponding group of views showing information that may be chosen by the user, the request for the view showing information being a selection of a link from the group of links that corresponds to the view showing information, which is selected from the group of views showing information, the link to the calendar view being provided with the view showing information no matter which of the group of views showing information was selected.