Systems and methods for exporting, publishing, browsing and installing on-demand applications in a multi-tenant database environment

• US 7,949,684 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Brooks, David, Jasik, Benji, Wong, Simon, Chasman, Douglas, Tzuo, Tien, Tucker, Lewis Wiley, Hansma, Scott, Tamm, Steven, Mason, Timothy, Bezar, Eric David, Gross, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/530,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.R, 707/999.103 R, 707/781, 707/802, 707/803
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/214 Database migration support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2329 using versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/50 Circuit switching systems, i.e. systems in which the path is physically permanent during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for creating, exporting, viewing and testing, and importing custom applications in a multi-tenant database environment. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to provide a vehicle for sharing applications across organizational boundaries. The ability to share applications across organizational boundaries can enable tenants in a multi-tenant database system, for example, to easily and efficiently import and export, and thus share, applications with other tenants in the multi-tenant environment.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of sharing an application in a multi-tenant database environment, including a multi-tenant database that stores data and objects for a plurality of organizations, the method comprising:

creating a package metadata object that references a set of one or more metadata objects associated with a first organization;

storing the package metadata object in a database system; and

allowing access to the package metadata object to a user in a second organization.

2. The method of claim 1, further including validating the package metadata object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein validating includes determining object dependencies for the set of one or more metadata objects referenced in the package metadata object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing access to the package metadata object includes sending a link to a user in the second organization, wherein selection of the link provides access to the stored package metadata object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating includes receiving a user selection of one or a plurality of metadata objects from a plurality of metadata objects associated with the first organization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more metadata objects include one or more custom objects that are usable by the first organization.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the package metadata object is stored in the database system as a set of primary keys of the objects referenced in the package metadata object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein creating includes:

receiving a user selection of a metadata object associated with the first organization;

determining objects that have a dependency on the selected metadata object; and

creating a reference in the package metadata object for the selected object and for any objects determined to have a dependency on the selected metadata object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein storing includes storing a reference to the package metadata object in a directory as an object for a separate organization not associated with the first organization.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein allowing access to the package metadata object includes providing a link to the stored package metadata object, wherein selection of the link provides access to the stored package metadata object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein upon selection of the link by a user in the second organization, the package metadata object is instantiated into a database schema associated with the second organization.

12. The method of claim 9, further including creating a demonstration copy of the package metadata object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the demonstration package includes sample data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an update to a container organization for the multi-tenant database; and

applying the update to both the package and the all other organizations in the multi-tenant database contemporaneously.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the package metadata object in a database system includes:

storing the package metadata object using a physical storage mechanism and a schema used for all other organizations in the multi-tenant database system to assure that a container organization can be upgraded for both the package and the all other organizations in the multi-tenant database.

16. A computer-readable storage medium containing code executable by a processor in a client device to share an application in a multi-tenant database environment that stores data and objects for multiple organizations, the code including instructions to:

create a package metadata object that references a set of one or more metadata objects associated with a first organization;

store the package metadata object to a database system; and

allow access to the package metadata object to a user in a second organization.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the code further includes instructions to validate the package metadata object.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a database system that stores data and objects for multiple organizations;

a network interconnect; and

a client device, having a processor, wherein the processor executes logic that is operable to control the database system to;

store a package metadata object to the database system, wherein the package metadata object references a set of one or more metadata objects associated with a first organization; and

allow access to the package metadata object to a user in a second organization.

19. A method for transmitting code to share an application in a multi-tenant database environment, including a multi-tenant database, over a machine accessible transmission medium, the method including:

transmitting code that causes one or more processors to create a package metadata object that references a set of one or more metadata objects associated with a first organization;

transmitting code that causes one or more processors to store the package metadata object in a database system; and

transmitting code that causes one or more processors to allow access to the package metadata object to a user in a second organization.

20. A method of sharing an application in a multi-tenant database environment, including a multi-tenant database that stores data and objects for a plurality of organizations, the method comprising:

creating a package comprising an object and a set of one or more objects that are dependent upon said object, wherein said object and dependent objects are associated with a first organization;

storing the package in a database system; and

allowing access to the package to a user in a second organization.