METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ANALYZING A NETWORK FEED IN A MULTI-TENANT DATABASE SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110302221A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Tobin, Thomas J., Sola, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24556 Aggregation; Duplicate elimination
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results

Abstract

The present invention discusses a dashboard application that compiles values across a set of records, each of the records having fields which include data pertaining to user-defined criteria. The user enters a query into the system and the set of records is returns and analyzed according the criteria. The results are numerical and are displayed in components of the dashboard. The component is a graph, bar graph, pie chart, etc. that appears in a user interface of the dashboard. A user can customize the application and define its component. Multiple users can view and subscribe to the dashboard and can select specific components to follow. Some components can have user-defined threshold values and can provide graphics displaying breakpoints of those values. When the system refreshes, or the user manually refreshes the dashboard, an alert is generated if the threshold value is traversed. The alert, including the component graphic, is posted in the subscriber'"'"'s feed and a feed of the dashboard.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for analyzing records in a database system, the method comprising:

creating a collection of one or more components to be stored on the database system, wherein a component is a visual metric representing one or more numerical values;

receiving a query including a criteria used to search a plurality of objects on the database system;

providing a selection of records associated with the plurality of objects, each of the records including one or more fields which satisfy the criteria;

associating the selection of records with at least one of said one or more components in the collection;

analyzing the one or more fields of the selection of records based on the criteria to produce the one or more numerical values; and

displaying the collection of one or more components on a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is defined by a user of the database system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is a quantifiable characteristic of the plurality of objects.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating is performed in response to a user request to create the collection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection is limited to a predefined number of components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual metric is displayed in a graphical configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is displayed in a feed associated with the collection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more users of the database system is capable of subscribing to the collection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a subscriber to the collection is capable of selectively subscribing to one or more components within the collection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the component is displayed in a feed associated with a subscriber of the component.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more numerical values in the component are updated at the request of a subscriber to the collection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more numerical values in the component are automatically updated by the database system at predetermined time intervals.

13. A database system comprising:

one or more processors configured to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer tangible medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a processor to perform an operation for analyzing records in a database system, the instructions comprising the method of claim 1.

15. A method for providing a story in a feed associated with a component on a database system, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of one or more threshold values for the component, wherein the component is a visual metric representing one or more numerical values;

compiling a report of aggregate values from one or more fields in a selection of records associated with one or more objects on the database system;

validating the one or more threshold values against the report;

generating the story when the one or more threshold values are traversed by the report values, wherein the story is a description of an event occurring to the selection of records; and

posting the story in the feed associated with component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more users are capable of subscribing to the component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the feed associated with the component is a feed of a subscriber to the component.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a user of the database system provides the indication of the one or more threshold values.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the story is generated from an update request by a subscriber to the component.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the story is generated automatically when the system performs a scheduled update.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the story includes the component.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the component is associated with a collection of components.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the visual metric is a graphical configuration.