Method and system for allowing access to developed applications via a multi-tenant on-demand database service

• US 7,730,478 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Weissman, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US11/859,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 717/106, 717/100, 717/171, 717/176, 710 1- 10
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3604 Software analysis for verifying properties of programs byte-code verification G06F9/44589
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for allowing access to developed applications via a multi-tenant on-demand database service, in a controlled environment. These mechanisms and methods for providing such access can enable embodiments to provide additional control over the development process as well as the access of such developed applications. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional control may lead to an improved application development framework, etc.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving developed applications at a multi-tenant on-demand database service; and

providing access to the applications to tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein the applications are under the control of the on-demand database service;

wherein a single instance of each application is instantiated among a plurality of the tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein a plurality of aspects of the applications are limited by the on-demand database service;

wherein the plurality of aspects of the applications that are limited includes a number of electronic mail messages and at least eight of the following;

an amount of resources made available to the applications, a number of columns of a database, a number of queries to the database, a number of rows returned by the queries, a number of database statements, a number of script statements between the database statements, a number of rows processed, a number of transaction statements, a total number of uncommitted rows since a last transaction control statement, and a total number of script statements since a last database call;

wherein access to the applications is controlled using the on-demand database service by disallowing publication of the applications to the on-demand database service in response to the determination that the applications violate the predetermined policies.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources include at least one of storage resources, processing resources, and bandwidth resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a development of the applications is controlled.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the applications are controlled by a requirement of the on-demand database service that the applications be tested.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the applications are controlled by a requirement of the on-demand database service that the applications be validated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein access to the applications by the tenants of the on-demand database service is controlled.

7. The method of claim 1, and further comprising compiling the applications.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the compiled applications are capable of being processed by a run-time interpreter of the on-demand database service.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the compiled applications include metadata.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata is stored in the database.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect of the applications that is limited includes at least nine of the following:

the amount of resources made available to the applications, the number of columns of the database, the number of queries to the database, the number of rows returned by the queries, the number of database statements, the number of script statements between the database statements, the number of rows processed, the number of transaction statements, the total number of uncommitted rows since the last transaction control statement, and the total number of script statements since the last database call.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect of the applications that is limited includes at least ten of the following:

the amount of resources made available to the applications, the number of columns of the database, the number of queries to the database, the number of rows returned by the queries, the number of database statements, the number of script statements between the database statements, the number of rows processed, the number of transaction statements, the total number of uncommitted rows since the last transaction control statement, and the total number of script statements since the last database call.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect of the applications that is limited includes the amount of resources made available to the applications, the number of columns of the database, the number of queries to the database, the number of rows returned by the queries, the number of database statements, the number of script statements between the database statements, the number of rows processed, the number of transaction statements, the total number of uncommitted rows since the last transaction control statement, and the total number of script statements since the last database call.

14. A volatile or non-volatile memory medium storing a computer program product, the computer program product comprising:

computer code for receiving developed applications at a multi-tenant on-demand database service; and

providing access to the applications to tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the applications are under the control of the on-demand database service;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that a single instance of each application is instantiated among a plurality of the tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that a plurality of aspects of the applications are limited by the on-demand database service;

wherein the a plurality of aspects aspect of the applications that are being limited includes a number of electronic mail messages and at least eight of the following;

an amount of resources made available to the applications, a number of columns of a database, a number of queries to the database, a number of rows returned by the queries, a number of database statements, a number of script statements between the database statements, a number of rows processed, a number of transaction statements, a total number of uncommitted rows since a last transaction control statement, and a total number of script statements since a last database call;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that access to the applications is controlled using the on-demand database service by disallowing publication of the applications to the on-demand database service in response to the determination that the applications violate the predetermined policies.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor for;

receiving developed applications at a multi-tenant on-demand database service, and

providing access to the applications to tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein the apparatus is operable such that the applications are under the control of the on-demand database service;

wherein the apparatus is operable such that a single instance of each application is instantiated among a plurality of the tenants of the on-demand database service;

wherein the apparatus is operable such that a plurality of aspects of the applications limited by the on-demand database service;

wherein the a plurality of aspects of the applications are being limited includes a number of electronic mail messages and at least eight of the following;

an amount of resources made available to the applications, a number of columns of a database, a number of queries to the database, a number of rows returned by the queries, a number of database statements, a number of script statements between the database statements, a number of rows processed, a number of transaction statements, a total number of uncommitted rows since a last transaction control statement, and a total number of script statements since a last database call;

wherein the apparatus is operable such that access to the applications is controlled using the on-demand database service by disallowing publication of the applications to the on-demand database service in response to the determination that the applications violate the predetermined policies.