Method and system for load balancing a forecast system by selecting a synchronous or asynchronous process to determine a sales forecast

• US 8,527,323 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Doshi, Kedar, Fischer, Mark, Chou, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US13/672,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.31
• US Class Current: 705/7.31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for selecting a synchronous or asynchronous process to determine a forecast. These mechanisms and methods for such synchronous/asynchronous process selection can enable embodiments to determine forecasts for multiple users (e.g. with hierarchical relationships, etc.) over an arbitrary time interval. The ability of embodiments to provide forecasts that involve such a large amount of data in an effective way can enable forecasting that was otherwise infeasible due to resource limitations.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying at least one user associated with at least one deal for which a sales forecast is determined;

identifying data upon which the sales forecast is based;

identifying a type of event that affects the sales forecast;

managing load on a forecast system utilized to determine the sales forecast, by automatically selecting between a synchronous process and an asynchronous process for determining the sales forecast, by a processor, based on the identified type of event, including;

automatically selecting the synchronous process when the type of event affects the data upon which the sales forecast is based; and

automatically selecting the asynchronous process when the type of event does not affect the data upon which the sales forecast is based, wherein the type of event that does not affect the data is based at least on changes to a defined reporting structure for the determined sales forecast;

determining the sales forecast from the data, utilizing the selected one of the synchronous process and the asynchronous process;

wherein the synchronous process is performed in less time than the asynchronous process, and wherein the synchronous process is performed in real-time or near-real time and the asynchronous process includes batch processing that is performed in a greater amount of time with respect to the synchronous process, such that the synchronous process is selected to determine the sales forecast faster than would the asynchronous process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is associated with the at least one user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the event affecting the data upon which the sales forecast is based includes a modification to the data upon which the sales forecast is based.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the synchronous process is automatically selected when the type of the event includes the modification to the data upon which the sales forecast is based such that the determining of the sales forecast from the data utilizing the selected synchronous process adjusts the sales forecast based on current data resulting from the modification to the data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of event that does not affect the data upon which the sales forecast is based is a set-up function event which changes metadata including parameters defining the reporting structure for reporting the determined sales forecast.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a hierarchy associated with the at least one user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sales forecast is determined, based on the hierarchy.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the hierarchy is user-defined.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one additional user associated with the at least one user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sales forecast is determined, based on the at least one additional user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of a plurality of additional users are included in a list associated with the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the list is user-defined.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the determination is made by identifying a first sales forecast associated with the at least one user and a second sales forecast associated with the at least one additional user, and aggregating the first sales forecast and the second sales forecast.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an arbitrary time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sales forecast is determined, based on the arbitrary time period.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the at least one event, wherein the sales forecast is determined based on the at least one event.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein predetermined criteria is utilized for the automatic selection between the synchronous process and the asynchronous process, such that first predetermined criteria based upon which the synchronous process is automatically selected includes a type of event occurring and being identified that affects the data upon which the sales forecast is based, and second predetermined criteria based upon which the asynchronous process is automatically selected includes a type of event occurring and being identified that does not affect the data upon which the sales forecast is based.

18. A machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

identifying at least one user associated with at least one deal for which a sales forecast is determined;

identifying data upon which the sales forecast is based;

identifying a type of event that affects the sales forecast;

managing load on a forecast system utilized to determine the sales forecast, by automatically selecting between a synchronous process and an asynchronous process for determining the sales forecast, by a processor, based on the identified type of event, including;

automatically selecting the synchronous process when the type of event affects the data upon which the sales forecast is based; and

automatically selecting the asynchronous process when the type of event does not affect the data upon which the sales forecast is based, wherein the type of event that does not affect the data is based at least on changes to a defined reporting structure for the determined sales forecast;

determining the sales forecast from the data, utilizing the selected one of the synchronous process and the asynchronous process;

wherein the synchronous process is performed in less time than the asynchronous process, and wherein the synchronous process is performed in real-time or near-real time and the asynchronous process includes batch processing that is performed in a greater amount of time with respect to the synchronous process, such that the synchronous process is selected to determine the sales forecast faster than would the asynchronous process.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

identifying at least one user associated with at least one deal for which a sales forecast is determined;

identifying data upon which the sales forecast is based;

identifying a type of event that affects the sales forecast;

managing load on a forecast system utilized to determine the sales forecast, by automatically selecting between a synchronous process and an asynchronous process for determining the sales forecast, by a processor, based on the identified type of event, including;

automatically selecting the synchronous process when the type of event affects the data upon which the sales forecast is based; and

automatically selecting the asynchronous process when the type of event does not affect the data upon which the sales forecast is based, wherein the type of event that does not affect the data is based at least on changes to a defined reporting structure for the determined sales forecast;

determining the sales forecast from the data, utilizing the selected one of the synchronous process and the asynchronous process;

wherein the synchronous process is performed in less time than the asynchronous process, and wherein the synchronous process is performed in real-time or near-real time and the asynchronous process includes batch processing that is performed in a greater amount of time with respect to the synchronous process, such that the synchronous process is selected to determine the sales forecast faster than would the asynchronous process.