Modeling of activity data

• US 7,617,239 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Laik, Pascal, Vallet, Roland Pierre, Sundararaian, Ramaswamy, Garg, Shailendra, Leon, Maria Theresa Barnes
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THU NGUYET T
• Application Number:
  US10/851,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/10, 705/20, 707/1, 707/7, 707/100, 707/103, 707/101, 707/104.1, 709/201, 709/226, 709/230, 715/740, 717/104, 717/108, 703/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An activity class is defined which includes multiple data elements that are common to various activity types. The activity class identifies relationships of an activity with various entities related to the activity.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

a first set of instructions, executable on a processor, configured to instantiate an activity class, wherein

the activity class comprises a plurality of data elements that are common to a plurality of activity types,

the activity class identifies a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity, wherein the activity types are common to a plurality of business processes,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to a source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

a first subset of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to retrieve the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

a second subset of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to retrieve a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

a third subset of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to open said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

a fourth subset of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to add said custom data element to a located tag, and

a fifth subset of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to close said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step;

a second set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to initialize data elements of the instantiated activity class;

a third set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to transform data received from the source application into a common format of the activity class, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

a fourth set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to transform the data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application; and

a fifth set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to send the data in the target format to the target application.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising:

a sixth set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to select two or more activity types from a group consisting of a service request activity, an opportunity activity, and a call tracking activity.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising:

a sixth set of instructions, executable on the processor, configured to select the plurality of entities from a group consisting of follow-up actions, related accounts, a related parent activity, related installed products, a related opportunity, a related service request, related contacts, and related employees.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the activity class is configured for use by an application handling activity data.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein said application is not industry specific.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein a definition of the activity class is represented as an XML schema.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the activity class further comprises:

a visibility sub-class comprising a first data element specifying whether data associated with the activity can be displayed in a user interface and a second data element specifying whether data associated with the activity can be displayed in a report.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the activity class further comprises:

an assignment skill sub-class comprising a first data element specifying one or more skills required to perform the activity and a second data element describing each of the one or more skills required to perform the activity.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the activity class further comprises:

a recurrence sub-class comprising a first data element specifying a frequency of repeating the activity and a second data element specifying an end date for repeating the activity.

10. A method for data transformation, the method comprising:

receiving activity data from a source application, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

transforming the activity data into a common format provided by an activity class; and

transforming the activity data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein

the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application,

the activity class includes a plurality of data elements common to a plurality of activity types and identifies a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to the source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of activity types comprises two or more activity types selected from the group consisting of a service request activity, an opportunity activity, and a call tracking activity.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of entities related to the activity is selected from the group consisting of follow-up actions, related accounts, a related parent activity, related installed products, a related opportunity, a related service request, related contacts, and related employees.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein:

each of the source application and target application is any application handling activity data, independent of an industry.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

defining an activity class including a plurality of data elements that are common to a plurality of activity types, the activity class identifying a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity, wherein

the activity types are common to a plurality of business processes,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to a source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre- defined type,

opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step;

transforming data received from the source application into a common format of the activity class, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

transforming the data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application; and

sending the data in the target format to the target application.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of activity types comprises two or more activity types selected from the group consisting of a service request activity, an opportunity activity, and a call tracking activity.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of entities related to the activity is selected from the group consisting of follow-up actions, related accounts, a related parent activity, related installed products, a related opportunity, a related service request, related contacts, and related employees.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

receiving activity data from a source application, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

transforming the activity data into a common format provided by an activity class; and

transforming the activity data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein

the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application,

the activity class includes a plurality of data elements common to a plurality of activity types and identifies a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to the source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the plurality of activity types comprises two or more activity types selected from the group consisting of a service request activity, an opportunity activity, and a call tracking activity.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the plurality of entities related to the activity is selected from the group consisting of follow-up actions, related accounts, a related parent activity, related installed products, a related opportunity, a related service request, related contacts, and related employees.

20. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute said set of instructions that cause the processor to perform the following;

define an activity class including a plurality of data elements common to a plurality of activity types, the activity class identifying a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity, wherein

the activity types are common to a plurality of business processes,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to a source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step,

transform data received from the source application into a common format of the activity class, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application,

transform the data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application, and

send the data in the target format to the target application.

21. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing said set of instructions which cause the processor to

receive activity data from a source application, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application,

transform the activity data into a common format provided by an activity class, and

transform the activity data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application, and wherein

the activity class includes a plurality of data elements common to a plurality of activity types activity and identifies a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to the source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

means for retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

means for defining an activity class including a plurality of data elements that are common to a plurality of activity types, the activity class identifying a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity, wherein

the activity types are common to a plurality of business processes,

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to a source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

means for retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

means for retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

means for opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

means for adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

means for closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step;

means for storing the activity class in the memory;

means for transforming data received from the source application into a common format of the activity class, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

means for transforming the data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application; and

means for sending the data in the target format to the target application.

23. An apparatus for data transformation, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving activity data from a source application, wherein the source application is one of a first customer relationship management (CRM) application or a first partner relationship management (PRM) application;

means for transforming the activity data into a common format provided by an activity class; and

means for transforming the activity data from the common format into a target format of a target application, wherein the target application is one of a second CRM application or a second PRM application, and wherein

the activity class includes a plurality of data elements common to a plurality of activity types activity and identifies a plurality of relationships of an activity with a plurality of entities related to the activity, and

the activity class further comprises a data element specifying a specific activity type for each entry in the activity class wherein the data element specifying the specific activity type is defined in a data definition schema for the activity class,

the activity class further comprises a custom data element defining one or more custom data fields for the activity class, wherein the one or more custom data fields of the activity class are specific to the source application, and wherein the custom data element is added to the activity class by;

means for retrieving the data definition schema for the activity class, wherein the data definition schema includes the custom data element of a pre-defined type, and wherein the pre-defined type initially defines no data element,

means for retrieving a custom data schema for a custom data of said pre-defined type,

means for opening said custom data schema and locating therein tags relating to said custom data of said pre-defined type,

means for adding said custom data element to a located tag, and

means for closing said custom data schema with said custom data element added thereto, and

the activity class further comprises a step sub-class comprising a data element specifying an identification of a step associated with fulfilling the activity, information about the step associated with fulfilling the activity, and an identification of a person related to the identified step.