Rule-based prioritization of social data

• US 8,818,985 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Ronald F., Slater, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F
• Application Number:
  US13/112,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 707/748, 707/707, 707/732, 707737-738, 707/751, 707/733
• US Class Current: 707/707
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24568 Data stream processing; Continuous queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A method of prioritizing feed items based on rules is provided. User input establishes one or more rules to prioritize a feed item, wherein at least one of the one or more rules incorporates the input data. Such user input may include user-created data or feed metrics. The one or more rules may be weighted. Additional user input configures one or more message cues. A plurality of feed items are prioritized based on the one or more rules. The plurality of feed items are associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein each feed is associated with an object stored in a database system. The plurality of feed items are then displayed in combination with the one or more message cues to a plurality of users of the database system.

Claims

1. A method of prioritizing feed items based on rules, the method comprising:

receiving input data, wherein the input data comprises data or feed metrics;

receiving user input to provide one or more rules to prioritize a feed item, wherein at least one of the one or more rules incorporates the input data, wherein the user input includes one or more message cues, each message cue associated with a respective rule to distinguish the feed item prioritized by the respective rule from other feed items;

accessing a plurality of feed items associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein at least one of the feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system, and wherein at least one of the feed items represents an event or an information update associated with the object;

prioritizing, using one or more processors associated with one or more servers, the plurality of feed items based on the one or more rules; and

for a feed item prioritized based on a rule, automatically displaying the feed item in combination with a message cue associated with the rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first rule is associated with a first message cue, wherein a second rule is associated with a second message cue, wherein a first feed item is prioritized based on the first rule, wherein a second feed item is prioritized based on the second rule, wherein the first feed item is displayed in combination with the first message cue, and wherein the second feed item is displayed in combination with the second message cue, the first message cue being different from the second message cue.

3. A method of prioritizing feed items based on rules, the method comprising:

accessing a plurality of feed items associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein at least one of the feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system, and wherein the at least one feed item of the plurality of feed items represents an event or an information update associated with the object;

receiving input providing one or more rules to prioritize the plurality of feed items, wherein the input includes one or more message cues, each message cue associated with a respective rule to distinguish the feed item prioritized by the respective rule from other feed items;

prioritizing, using one or more processors associated with one or more servers, the plurality of feed items based on the one or more rules; and

for at least one feed item prioritized based on a rule, automatically displaying the feed item in combination with a message cue associated with the rule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the input is submitted by an administrator, and wherein the one or more rules are user-independent or user-specific.

5. The method claim 3, wherein the input is submitted by a viewer, wherein the viewer is a user of the database system, and wherein the one or more rules are user-specific.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

weighting the one or more rules, and

wherein prioritizing the plurality of feeds is based on the one or more weighted rules.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving input data, wherein the input data comprises user-created data or feed metrics; and

incorporating the input data into at least one of the one or more rules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-created data comprises information related to an organization'"'"'s personnel structure, financial/market data, user profiles, entity profiles, Internet content, a knowledge base, or a customer support database.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an update of the input data; and

updating any rule incorporating the input data.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying a feed in combination with a message cue comprises configuring visual presentation of the feed or auditory effects presented in association with the feed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that an originator of a feed item is associated with an object in the database system, wherein the originator is a first user of the database system;

prioritizing the feed item for viewers who are associated with the same object in the database system, wherein a viewer is a second user of the database system, wherein the first and second users are different; and

displaying the feed item in combination with at least one message cue to at least one viewer who is associated with the same object in the database system.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that an originator of a feed item is of high rank within an organization, wherein the originator is a first user of the database system, and wherein the organization is associated with an object in the database system;

prioritizing the feed item for employees within the organization, wherein the employees are users of the database system different from the first user, and wherein the employees are of lower rank than the originator within the organization; and

displaying the feed item in combination with at least one message cue to at least one employee.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying a first user of the database system;

determining that a second user is designated as special by the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the database system different from the first user; and

displaying feed items originated by the second user to the first user, wherein each feed item is displayed to the first user in combination with at least one message cue.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying a first user of the database system;

determining that a feed item has an attachment, wherein the attachment is of a type designated as high priority by the first user;

prioritizing the feed item for the first user;

displaying the feed item to the first user, wherein the feed item is displayed to the first user in combination with at least one message cue.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying a first user of the database system;

determining that a feed item includes a keyword, wherein the keyword is designated by the first user;

prioritizing the feed item for the first user;

displaying the feed item to the first user, wherein the feed item is displayed to the first user in combination with at least one message cue.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that a recent feed item has a recent timestamp;

prioritizing the recent feed item higher than feed items having older timestamps; and

displaying the recent feed item in combination with at least one message cue.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that a feed item meets or exceeds a benchmark with respect to a feed metric;

prioritizing the feed item; and

displaying the feed item in combination with at least one message cue.

18. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for prioritizing feed items based on rules, the instructions comprising:

program code to access a plurality of feed items associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein at least one of the feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system, and wherein the at least one feed item of the plurality of feed items represents an event or an information update associated with the object;

program code to receive input providing one or more rules to prioritize the plurality of feed items, wherein the input includes one or more message cues, each message cue associated with a respective rule to distinguish the feed item prioritized by the respective rule from other feed items;

program code to prioritize, using one or more processors associated with one or more servers, the plurality of feed items based on the one or more rules; and

program code to, for at least one feed item prioritized based on a rule, automatically display the feed item in combination with a message cue associated with the rule.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium stores further instructions comprising:

program code to receive input data, wherein the input data comprises user-created data or feed metrics; and

program code to incorporate the input data into at least one of the one or more rules.

20. A system for prioritizing feed items based on rules, the system comprising a database of feed items, wherein the database is stored on one or more servers;

and one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the following operations;

access a plurality of feed items associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein at least one of the feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system, and wherein the at least one feed item of the plurality of feed items represents an event or an information update associated with the object;

receive, at one or more servers, input providing one or more rules to prioritize the plurality of feed items, wherein the input includes one or more message cues, each message cue associated with a respective rule to distinguish the feed item prioritized by the respective rule from other feed items;

prioritize, using one or more processors associated with the one or more servers, the plurality of feed items based on the one or more rules; and

for at least one feed item prioritized based on a rule, automatically display, at one or more display devices, the feed item in combination with a message cue associated with the rule.