Method and system for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service

• US 8,332,435 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Ballard, Alan, Chasman, Doug, Bezar, Eric, Scotton, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): Radtke, Mark Andrew X
• Application Number:
  US11/866,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 707/795
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

In embodiments, methods and systems for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to provide a user interface designed by a tenant of the on-demand database service. The customization can include including third party content into the customized user interface, overriding a standard object, and providing content inline at a specified location.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service that is subscribed to by a plurality of tenants, each tenant being an organization that subscribes to the on-demand database service and including a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first of the plurality of tenants, first information specific to the first tenant;

storing the first information in a database that stores other information received from other tenants, each of the other information specific to a particular tenant;

receiving, from the first tenant, one or more definitions of a customization of a user interface for accessing the first information in the database, the definitions specific to the first tenant and each definition associated with a particular portion of the first information specific to the first tenant, wherein at least one of the definitions includes a reference to content stored at a server external to the on-demand database service, wherein the on-demand database service includes;

one or more servers running an application for communicating with users of the tenants, the application providing access to the database;

associating the definitions with the first information that is specific to the first tenant and that is stored in the database;

receiving, at the application running on the one or more servers from a first user of the first tenant, a request for at least a portion of the first information specific to the first tenant; and

in response to the request, sending, to the first user, a user interface modified according to the definitions associated with the at least a portion of the first information requested by the first user, such that a customized user interface that includes a combination of the referenced content and the requested information is displayed to the user for use by the first user in accessing the at least a portion of the first information requested by the first user;

wherein the modified user interface is generated in response to the request from the first user by program code interacting with the definitions;

wherein a first one of the definitions is for a language translation and is associated with web content of one or more third parties that is not stored utilizing the on-demand database, such that in response to a first request from the first user for the web content of the one of the third parties specified by a URL of the one of the third parties;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the first one of the customizations including the language translation of the web content of the one of the third parties specified by the URL of the one of the third parties;

wherein a second one of the definitions references a place of business and is associated with a map of the place of business provided by another one of the third parties, such that in response to a second request from the first user;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the second one of the customizations by including the map of the place of business in the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first tenant, how the definitions are to be applied, wherein which information is associated depends on at least one of the definition or a selection of how the definition is to be applied.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the referenced content; and

combining the referenced content and the tenant-specific information to form the modified user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference to the content includes a URL.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the combination of the referenced content and the tenant-specific information is created by a client application of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user has access to the requested tenant-specific information, wherein only the requested user-specific information to which the user has access is sent in the modified user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the definitions includes custom content that is hosted by the on-demand database service but executed by a client application of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the definitions includes a reference to instructions for controlling an aspect of how the customized user interface is displayed, further comprising receiving, from the first tenant, one or more other definitions of a customization of the user interface, wherein a reference to the instructions also appear in at least one of the other definitions received from the first tenant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructions are stored at a server of the first tenant.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a modification from at least one of the definitions is displayed inline on a detail page when the customized user interface is displayed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the definitions includes an addition of a custom button, tab, or link in the user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein associating the definitions with information that is specific to the first tenant and that is stored in the on-demand database includes:

defining a behavior on a single object or on multiple objects as appearing in a list, wherein the information includes the single or multiple objects.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the definitions includes an override of one or more standard buttons, tabs, or links in the user interface.

14. A method for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service that is subscribed to by a plurality of tenants, each tenant being an organization that subscribes to the on-demand database service and including a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first of the plurality of tenants, first information specific to the first tenant;

storing the first information in a database that stores other information received from other tenants, each of the other information specific to a particular tenant;

receiving, from the first tenant, one or more definitions of a customization of a user interface for accessing the first information in the database, the definitions specific to the first tenant and each definition associated with a particular portion of the first information specific to the first tenant, wherein at least one of the definitions includes a reference to content stored at a server external to the on-demand database service, wherein the on-demand database service includes;

one or more servers running an application for communicating with users of the tenants, the application providing access to the database;

associating the definitions with the first information that is specific to the first tenant and that is stored in the database, wherein at least one of the definitions defines an action on at least a first portion of the first information;

binding the at least one definition defining an action on the first portion of the first information to a pre-defined object that is standard to the user interface and that is displayed as part of the user interface when at least some of the first information is displayed, wherein the binding overrides a previous functionality of the pre-defined object, the previous functionality being a performance of a predefined action;

receiving, from a user, a request for the at least some of the first information;

in response to the request, sending, to the user, a user interface modified according to the definitions associated with the at least a portion of the first information requested by the user such that a customized user interface that includes a combination of the referenced content and the requested information is displayed to the user for use by the user in accessing the at least a portion of the first information requested by the first user;

wherein the modified user interface is generated in response to the request from the user by program code interacting with the definitions;

receiving an activation of the pre-defined object; and

performing the defined action on the first portion of the first information;

wherein a first one of the definitions is for a language translation and is associated with web content of one or more third parties that is not stored utilizing the on-demand database, such that in response to a first request from the first user for the web content of the one of the third parties specified by a URL of the one of the third parties;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the first one of the customizations including the language translation of the web content of the one of the third parties specified by the URL of the one of the third parties;

wherein a second one of the definitions references a place of business and is associated with a map of the place of business provided by another one of the third parties, such that in response to a second request from the first user;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the second one of the customizations by including the map of the place of business in the user interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pre-defined object includes at least one of a button, tab, or link in the user interface.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the action is a query on the data in the on-demand database service.

17. A method for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service that is subscribed to by a plurality of tenants, each tenant being an organization that subscribes to the on-demand database service and including a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first of the plurality of tenants, first information specific to the first tenant;

storing the first information in a database that stores other information received from other tenants, each of the other information specific to a particular tenant;

receiving, from a first user of the first tenant, one or more definitions of a customization of a user interface for accessing the first information in the database, the definitions specific to the first tenant and each definition associated with a particular portion of the first information specific to the first tenant, wherein at least one of the definitions includes a reference to content, the reference being program code that refers to a storage location of the content, wherein the on-demand database service includes;

one or more servers running an application for communicating with users of the tenants, the application providing access to the database;

associating the definitions with the first information that is specific to the first tenant and that is stored in the database;

receiving an indication of a display location where the referenced content is to appear on a particular page of the user interface;

receiving, from a second user of the first tenant, a request for at least a portion of the first information; and

in response to the request, sending, to the second user, a user interface modified according to the definitions associated with the at least a portion of the first information requested by the second user, such that a customized user interface that includes a combination of the referenced content and the requested information is displayed to the second user for use by the second user in accessing the at least a portion of the first information requested by the second user, wherein the referenced content is displayed at the indicated display location;

wherein the modified user interface is generated in response to the request from the second user by program code interacting with the definitions;

wherein a first one of the definitions is for a language translation and is associated with web content of one or more third parties that is not stored utilizing the on-demand database, such that in response to a first request from the first user for the web content of the one of the third parties specified by a URL of the one of the third parties;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the first one of the customizations including the language translation of the web content of the one of the third parties specified by the URL of the one of the third parties;

wherein a second one of the definitions references a place of business and is associated with a map of the place of business provided by another one of the third parties, such that in response to a second request from the first user;

sending, to the first user, the user interface modified according to the second one of the customizations by including the map of the place of business in the user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the content includes at least one of a map, a chart, and a graph.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication of the display location is received from a pointing device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the combination of the referenced content and the user-specific information is created by a client application being used by the second user.