MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CONTENT ORGANIZATION AND DELIVERY

• US 20110106808A1
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Mark, Agrawal, Sonali, Pin, Oliver, Hersans, Alexandre, Kjellberg, Orjan, Macklem, Walter
• Application Number:
  US12/857,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection

Abstract

The present disclosure provides novel systems and methods for providing multi-dimensional categorization within a multi-tenant database system (“MTS”). Data items in entities stored in a MTS may be categorized along one or more category dimensions. A search query may include one or more selected categories in one or more category dimensions. Categorization methodologies include multi-selection, multi-position, and combinations thereof. Users of the MTS may also be categorized along one or more category dimensions. A filter may present a subset of data items relevant to a user in accordance with their categorization.

Claims

1. A method for categorization in a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

receiving at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system an identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a tenant in the multi-tenant database system;

retrieving using a processor of the server one or more categories from one or more category dimensions stored in the multi-tenant database system based on the identifier, wherein the one or more category dimensions are accessible by the tenant; and

transmitting from the network interface information identifying the one or more categories.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a definition for a category in a category dimension; and

configuring the category according to the definition, wherein the category is stored in the multi-tenant database system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identification of a selected category dimension;

receiving an identification of a data item in an entity stored in the multi-tenant database system; and

categorizing the data item along the selected category dimension.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data item is categorized with a blank value for the selected category dimension.

5. A method for retrieving data in a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

receiving at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system an identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a tenant in the multi-tenant database system;

receiving at the network interface an identification of a first category in a first category dimension, wherein the first category dimension is accessible by the tenant;

retrieving using a processor of the server one or more data items, wherein the one or more data items are retrieved from one or more database entities stored in a multi-tenant database system, and wherein the one or more data items are categorized along the first category dimension; and

transmitting from the network interface information identifying the one or more data items.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an identification of a second category in a second category dimension, wherein the second category dimension is accessible by the tenant;

wherein the one or more data items are categorized along at least one of the first category dimension and the second category dimension.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more data items are categorized along both the first category dimension and the second category dimension.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

retrieving data items categorized with a blank value for the first category dimension.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the data items are categorized under one of a subset of categories that are related to the first category.

10. A method of filtering data items for a user of a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

receiving at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system information about a user of the multi-tenant database system, wherein the user is associated with an organization that is a tenant of the multi-tenant database system, and wherein the user is categorized under a category of a category dimension;

receiving at the network interface a request for data items relevant to the user;

retrieving using a processor of the server one or more data items associated with the category, wherein the one or more data items are retrieved from entities stored in the multi-tenant database system; and

transmitting from the network interface information identifying the one or more data items.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the program code including further instructions to:

receive a definition for a category in a category dimension; and

configure the category according to the definition, wherein the category is stored in the multi-tenant database system.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the program code including further instructions to:

receive an identification of a selected category dimension;

receive an identification of a data item in an entity stored in the multi-tenant database system; and

categorize the data item along the selected category dimension.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data item is categorized with a blank value for the selected category dimension.

11. A computer-readable medium containing program code executable by a processor in a computer to categorize data items in a multi-tenant database system, the program code including instructions to:

receive at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system an identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a tenant in the multi-tenant database system;

retrieve using a processor of the server one or more categories from one or more category dimensions stored in the multi-tenant database system based on the identifier, wherein the one or more category dimensions are accessible by the tenant; and

transmit from the network interface information to display the one or more categories.

15. A computer-readable medium containing program code executable by a processor in a computer to retrieve data in a multi-tenant database system, the program code including instructions to:

receive at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system an identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a tenant in the multi-tenant database system;

receive at the network interface an identification of a first category in a first category dimension, wherein the first category dimension is accessible by the tenant;

retrieve using a processor of the server one or more data items, wherein the one or more data items are retrieved from one or more database entities stored in a multi-tenant database system, and wherein the one or more data items are categorized along the first category dimension; and

transmit from the network interface information identifying the one or more data items.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program code including further instructions to:

receive an identification of a second category in a second category dimension, wherein the second category dimension is accessible by the tenant, wherein the one or more data items are categorized along at least one of the first category dimension and the second category dimension.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more data items are categorized along both the first category dimension and the second category dimension.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program code including further instructions to:

retrieve data items categorized with a blank value for the first category dimension.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the data items are categorized under one of a subset of categories that are related to the first category.

20. A computer-readable medium containing program code executable by a processor in a computer to filter data items for a user of a multi-tenant database system, the program code including instructions to:

receive at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system information about a user of the multi-tenant database system, wherein the user is associated with an organization that is a tenant of the multi-tenant database system, and wherein the user is categorized under a category of a category dimension;

receive at the network interface a request for data items relevant to the user;

retrieve using a processor of the server one or more data items associated with the category, wherein the one or more data items are retrieved from entities stored in the multi-tenant database system; and

transmit from the network interface information identifying the one or more data items.

21. A computer-readable medium containing program code executable by a processor in a computer to categorize data items in a multi-tenant database system, the program code including instructions to:

receive at a network interface of a server in the multi-tenant database system an identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a tenant in the multi-tenant database system;

retrieve using a processor of the server one or more categories from one or more category dimensions stored in the multi-tenant database system, wherein the one or more category dimensions are accessible by the tenant;

transmit from the network interface information to display the one or more categories;

receive at the network interface a selection of a first category in a first category dimension;

receive at the network interface a selection of a second category in a second category dimension;

return using the processor one or more data items associated with at least one of the first category and the second category, wherein the one or more data items are retrieved from one or more database entities stored in the multi-tenant database system; and

transmit from the network interface information identifying the one or more data items.