Techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant on-demand database system

• US 8,473,469 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Yancey, Scott, Smith, Andrew, Waite, Andrew, Weissman, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Casanova, Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US12/197,979
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/613, 707/702, 707/703
• US Class Current: 707/703
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2372 Updates performed during offline database operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system. These techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system may enable embodiments to provide great flexibility to a tenant of the architecture to perform desired functions on content of the database while allowing the owner of the architecture schedule the processing of the functions on the content.

Claims

1. A method in a multi-tenant database system, the method comprising:

enqueuing a batch request in a request queue responsive to receiving a request from a tenant of the multi-tenant database system;

calling a query locator object of the multi-tenant database system that points to a maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing via the multi-tenant database system;

retrieving the maximum number of objects based on the called query locator object;

scheduling execution of the batch request by queuing the batch request within an execute queue among a plurality of objects in the execute queue;

running a query more method of the multi-tenant database system to construct and return an SObject array, the SObject array having therein objects to be the subject of an EXECUTE method for processing the batch request; and

passing the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution via the multi-tenant database system responsive to the request from the tenant of the multi-tenant database system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising notifying the tenant of completion.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein passing the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution comprises interleaving the EXECUTE method with a plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein a process of the multi-tenant database system interleaves invocation of the EXECUTE method and the plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods associated with requests from a plurality of tenants respectively.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods is invoked before completion of processing for the request.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a FINISH method is invoked after the EXECUTE method has completed, wherein the FINISH method comprises operations defined by the tenant.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing is based at least in part on a consumption history of resources on an architecture corresponding to the multi-tenant database system.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the request and the EXECUTE method corresponds to a request for manipulation of data within the multi-tenant database system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-tenant database system comprises elements of hardware and software that are shared by a plurality of users, wherein a first one of the plurality of users is allowed access to a first portion of tenant information and a second one of the plurality of users is allowed access to a second portion of tenant information, wherein access to the first and second portions of tenant information for the first and second ones of the plurality of users is mutually exclusive when the first and second portions of tenant information is not expressly shared.

10. A non-transitory machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for implementing operations in a multi-tenant database system, the operations comprising:

enqueuing a batch request in a request queue responsive to receiving a request from a tenant of the multi-tenant database system;

calling a query locator object of the multi-tenant database system that points to a maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing via the multi-tenant database system;

retrieving the maximum number of objects based on the called query locator object;

scheduling execution of the batch request by queuing the batch request within an execute queue among a plurality of objects in the execute queue;

running a query more method of the multi-tenant database system to construct and return an SObject array, the SObject array having therein objects to be the subject of an EXECUTE method for processing the batch request; and

passing the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution via the multi-tenant database system responsive to the request from the tenant of the multi-tenant database system.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein the operations further comprise notifying the tenant of completion.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein passing the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution comprises interleaving the EXECUTE method with a plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein a process of the multi-tenant database system interleaves invocation of the EXECUTE method and the plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods associated with requests from a plurality of tenants respectively.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of remaining EXECUTE methods is invoked before completion of processing for the request.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein a FINISH method is invoked after the EXECUTE method has completed, wherein the FINISH method comprises operations defined by the tenant.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing is based at least in part on a consumption history of resources on an architecture corresponding to the multi-tenant database system.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein the request and the EXECUTE method corresponds to a request for manipulation of data within the multi-tenant database system.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein the multi-tenant database system comprises elements of hardware and software that are shared by a plurality of users, wherein a first one of the plurality of users is allowed access to a first portion of tenant information and a second one of the plurality of users is allowed access to a second portion of tenant information, wherein access to the first and second portions of tenant information for the first and second ones of the plurality of users is mutually exclusive when the first and second portions of tenant information is not expressly shared.

19. An apparatus for implementing a batch processing method in a multi-tenant database system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out operations comprising;

enqueuing a batch request in a request queue responsive to receiving a request from a tenant of the multi-tenant database system;

calling a query locator object of the multi-tenant database system that points to a maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing via the multi-tenant database system;

retrieving the maximum number of objects based on the called query locator object;

scheduling execution of the batch request by queuing the batch request within an execute queue among a plurality of objects in the execute queue;

running a query more method of the multi-tenant database system to construct and return an SObject array, the SObject array having therein objects to be the subject of an EXECUTE method for processing the batch request; and

passing the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution via the multi-tenant database system responsive to the request from the tenant of the multi-tenant database system.

20. A method for transmitting code to implement batch processing method in a multi-tenant database system on a transmission medium, the method comprising:

transmitting code to enqueue a batch request in a request queue responsive to receiving a request from a tenant of the multi-tenant database system;

transmitting code to call a query locator object of the multi-tenant database system that points to a maximum number of objects to be scheduled for uninterrupted processing via the multi-tenant database system;

transmitting code to retrieve the maximum number of objects based on the called query locator object;

transmitting code to schedule execution of the batch request by queuing the batch request within an execute queue among a plurality of objects in the execute queue;

transmitting code to run a query more method of the multi-tenant database system to construct and return an SObject array, the SObject array having therein objects to be the subject of an EXECUTE method for processing the batch request; and

transmitting code to pass the SObject array to the EXECUTE method for execution via the multi-tenant database system responsive to the request from the tenant of the multi-tenant database system.