System for database monitoring and agent implementation

• US 6,738,757 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Workwise, Inc.
• Inventors: Wynne, Thomas David, Monlux, Clifford John
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/416,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/201, 707/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2358 Change logging, detection, and notification replication G06F16/27
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Comprising an engine and intelligent agents, the invented system monitors a data network for important events selected by the user and upon detection puts the information into action. Examples of actions that can be initiated include: updating ODBC compliant databases, sending E-mail (with file attachments) to a customer, partner or employee, merging data with and printing RTF documents, invoking VBScript or Jscript, running a program, executing SQL statements or stored procedures. The invented system incorporates a data monitor, process scheduler, and an event logging system. It establishes a snapshot of a data network, without replication, and compares this snapshot with the data viewed subsequently to determine if any data in the table being monitored has been changed, deleted, or added. Using an interface that guides users through the database selection process and that guides the user through the data server agent process, the query builder writes standard SQL statements to access and take action on data adds, changes and deletes.

Claims

1. A method of comparing data contents contained in user predefined fields of a user predefined database table of a user predefined database at user predefined intervals, the method allowing for one or more of a plurality of actions to be taken, the method comprising the steps of:

a) sending a query to said user predefined fields, extracting a first instance number representing the data contents of one or more fields associated with a primary field, wherein said one or more fields used in extracting said first instance number are selectable by a user and wherein said first instance number is a hashed value, and placing said first instance number in a “

snapshot”

data record;

b) at said user predetermined time interval, sending said query to said predefined fields, and extracting a second instance number representing the data contents of said one or more fields associated with said primary field at said user predetermined interval, wherein said second instance number is a hashed value;

c) comparing said first instance number with said second instance number, wherein a mismatch between the first instance number and the second instance number indicates the data contents of said one or more fields associated with said primary field have changed over said predetermined intervals;

d) applying a business rule to determine which of said plurality of actions to take if a mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number; and

,

e) performing at least one of said plurality of actions if no mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the acts of packaging said changed data into a software object format that is thereby sent to at least one update agent.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the update agent communicates said changed data to at least one of a plurality of destinations preselected by the user.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the acts of recording into an accessible and retrievable memory location the acts of determining when said data contents changed and the acts of which update agents were activated whenever said data contents changed and whenever said update agents were activated.

5. A computer implemented system for comparing data contents contained in user predefined fields of a user predefined database table of a user predefined database at user predefined intervals, wherein said computer implemented system allows one or more of a plurality of actions to be taken, the computer implemented system comprising:

a) sending a query to said user predefined fields, extracting a first instance number representing the data contents of one or more fields associated with a primary field, wherein said one or more fields used in extracting said first instance number are selectable by a user and wherein the first instance number is a hashed value, and placing said first instance number in a “

snapshot”

data record;

b) at said user predetermined interval, sending said query to said predefined fields, and extracting a second instance number representing the data contents of said one or more fields associated with said primary field at said user predetermined interval, wherein said second instance number is a hashed value;

c) comparing said first instance number with said second instance number, wherein a mismatch between the first instance number and the second instance number indicates the data contents of said one or more fields associated with said primary field have changed over said predetermined interval;

d) applying a business rule to determine which of said plurality of actions to take if a mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number; and

,

e) performing at least one of said plurality of actions if no mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number.

6. The system of claim 5 further including packaging said changed data into a software object format that is thereby sent to at least one update agent.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the update agent communicates said changed data to at least one of a plurality of destinations preselected by the user.

8. The system of claim 7 further including recording into an accessible and retrievable memory location the acts of determining when said data contents changed and the acts of which update agents were activated whenever said data contents changed and whenever said update agents were activated.

9. A computer implemented system for comparing data contents contained in user predefined fields of a user predefined database table of a user predefined database at user predefined intervals, wherein said computer implemented system allows one or more of a plurality of actions to be taken, the computer implemented system comprising:

a) means for sending a query to said user predefined fields, extracting a first instance number representing the data contents of one or more fields associated with a primary field, wherein said one or more fields used in extracting said first instance number are selectable by a user and wherein said first instance number is a hashed value, and placing said first instance number in a “

snapshot”

data record;

b) at said user predetermined interval, sending said query to said predefined fields, and extracting a second instance number representing the data contents of said one or more fields associated with said primary field at said user predetermined interval, wherein said second instance number is a hashed value;

c) comparing said first instance number with said second instance number, wherein a mismatch between the first instance number and the second instance number indicates the data contents of said one or more fields associated with the primary field have changed over said predetermined interval;

d) applying a business rule to determine which of said plurality of actions to take if a mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number; and

,

e) performing at least one of said plurality of actions if no mismatch exists between the first instance number and the second instance number.

10. The system of claim 9 further including packaging said changed data into a software object format that is thereby sent to at least one update agent.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the update agent includes means for communicating said changed data to at least one of a plurality of destinations preselected by the user.

12. The system of claim 11 further including means for recording into an accessible and retrievable memory location the acts of determining when said data contents changed and the acts of which update agents were activated whenever said data contents changed and whenever said update agents were activated.