Method and system for applying a group of instructions to metadata

• US 9,058,361 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Jasik, Benji, Fell, Simon, Eidson, Bill, Viripaeff, Lexi
• Primary Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US13/554,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 707/615, 707/999.008, 707/2, 707/3, 707/706, 707/628
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for applying a group of instructions to metadata in the context of an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for applying a group of instructions to metadata can enable embodiments that ensure that “all or none” of the operations corresponding to the grouped instructions are performed. The ability of embodiments to provide such feature can prevent a scenario where only a portion of a desired effect is accomplished which, in turn, may complicate any effort to undo the same.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, at a database system, that a rule has been triggered;

in response to the rule being triggered, receiving, at the database system from an application running on the database system, a first request including a first instruction indicating an operation to be performed on a set of first metadata, wherein the set of first metadata includes a name, a data type, and an object name, and describes a portion of data stored by the database system, and wherein the first request indicates that the operation is to be handled by an asynchronous process;

based on the first instruction;

performing the operation on the set of first metadata;

prompting, by the database system, a subscriber of the database system for user input;

receiving, at the database system, the user input from the subscriber, the user input including a second request including a second instruction indicating a modification to be performed on a set of second metadata that specifies a data type for another portion of data stored by the database service, wherein the second request indicates that the modification is to be handled by a synchronous process;

determining whether the modification is permissible using a rule that indicates a size limit associated with the set of second metadata;

performing the modification to the set of second metadata, when it is determined that the modification is permissible;

wherein the asynchronous process includes a thread pool that is allocated a finite amount of a local resources such that the at least one first instruction is only processed when the local thread pool has sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction and is only processed in at least near-real time when, in response to receipt of the first request, the local thread pool has the sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction;

wherein the synchronous process is automatically allocated with sufficient resources to process the second instruction such that the second instruction is processed in at least near-real time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first instruction is received utilizing an application program interface (API).

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising sending a confirmation message to the subscriber, in response to the receipt of the second instruction.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising receiving a status request from the subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4, and further comprising sending a status message to the subscriber, in response to the receipt of the status request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the status message is conditionally sent to the subscriber, based on a time period within which the status request is received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database system includes a multi-tenant database system.

8. A non-transitory 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 a database system, that a rule has been triggered;

in response to the rule being triggered, receiving, at the database system from an application running on the database system, a first request including a first instruction indicating an operation to be performed on a set of first metadata, wherein the set of first metadata includes a name, a data type, and an object name, and describes a portion of data stored by the database system, and wherein the first request indicates that the operation is to be handled by an asynchronous process; and

based on the first instruction;

performing the operation on the set of first metadata;

prompting, by the database system, a subscriber of the database system for user input;

receiving, at the database system, the user input from the subscriber, the user input including a second request including a second instruction indicating a modification to be performed on a set of second metadata that specifies a data type for another portion of data stored by the database service, wherein the second request indicates that the modification is to be handled by a synchronous process;

determining whether the modification is permissible using a rule that indicates a size limit associated with the set of second metadata;

performing the modification to the set of second metadata, when it is determined that the modification is permissible;

wherein the asynchronous process includes a thread pool that is allocated a finite amount of a local resources such that the at least one first instruction is only processed when the local thread pool has sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction and is only processed in at least near-real time when, in response to receipt of the first request, the local thread pool has the sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction;

wherein the synchronous process is automatically allocated with sufficient resources to process the second instruction such that the second instruction is processed in at least near-real time.

9. 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 a database system, that a rule has been triggered;

in response to the rule being triggered, receiving, at the database system from an application running on the database system, a first request including a first instruction indicating an operation to be performed on a set of first metadata,

wherein the set of first metadata includes a name, a data type, and an object name, and describes a portion of data stored by the database system, and wherein the first request indicates that the operation is to be handled by an asynchronous process; and

based on the first instruction;

performing the operation on the set of first metadata;

prompting, by the database system, a subscriber of the database system for user input;

receiving, at the database system, the user input from the subscriber, the user input including a second request including a second instruction indicating a modification to be performed on a set of second metadata that specifies a data type for another portion of data stored by the database service, wherein the second request indicates that the modification is to be handled by a synchronous process;

determining whether the modification is permissible using a rule that indicates a size limit associated with the set of second metadata;

performing the modification to the set of second metadata, when it is determined that the modification is permissible;

wherein the asynchronous process includes a thread pool that is allocated a finite amount of a local resources such that the at least one first instruction is only processed when the local thread cool has sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction and is only processed in at least near-real time when, in response to receipt of the first request, the local thread pool has the sufficient capacity to process the at least one first instruction;

wherein the synchronous process is automatically allocated with sufficient resources to process the second instruction such that the second instruction is processed in at least near-real time.