Cloud based master data management

• US 9,128,768 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Korovin, Ievgenii, Malafeev, Alexander, Kukurudza, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISMAIL, MAHMOUD S
• Application Number:
  US13/015,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/224, 710/110, 717/105, 717/107, 705/1.1, 705/7.27, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing

Abstract

A cloud based service provides Master Data Management (MDM) services to clients. A client may create/modify MDM workflows that are hosted by the cloud based service to assist in meeting their needs. An interface is provided at points within the workflow that is hosted by the cloud based service. The cloud based service utilizes a flexible pipeline that executes predefined configurable blocks. A user can create or customize an existing workflow based on the predefined set of blocks (e.g. execution blocks, conditional blocks, loop blocks). The blocks are configured to receive, process and send information relating to the master data according to a predefined schema. Clients may publish master data changes and/or subscribe to master data changes made by other clients.

Claims

1. A method for managing master data, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first client by a server that is part of a cloud based Master Data Management (MDM) service that is used to manage master data including changes to the master data for a plurality of clients, wherein the first message includes a first operation to be performed that relates to management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determining that the first operation to be performed in the first message received from the first client is associated with a first workflow based on the first operation in the first message identifying the first workflow;

receiving a second message from a second client by the server, wherein the second message includes a second operation to be performed that relates to the management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determining that the second operation in the second message is associated with a second workflow based on the second message identifying the second workflow;

accessing, via the MDM service, the first workflow associated with the first client, wherein the first workflow is a sequence of blocks that perform actions for managing master data;

determining whether the first operation to be performed in the first message is valid;

when the first operation to be performed in the first message is valid, performing the first operation; and

providing a notification when the first operation is performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operation is a change to a master data item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operation is a modification to the first workflow.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an Application Programming Interface (API) that is used by the client to interact with the MDM service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the API provides a public interface for subscribing to a change relating to the master data item and sending the change relating to the master data item.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the API provides a public interface for modifying a block of the first workflow.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the API allows the client to set a constraint that is associated with the first workflow that is contained within the network service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the blocks consist of an execution block, a conditional block, and a loop block.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first workflow in the MDM service transforms the master data item to different formats before providing the notification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the MDM service provides a default set of workflows.

11. A computer-readable storage memory device, excluding a signal, storing computer-executable instructions for managing master data, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first device by a cloud based Master Data Management (MDM) service that is used to manage master data including changes to the master data for different a plurality of clients, wherein the first message includes a first desired operation to be performed that relates to management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determining that the first operation to be performed in the first message received from the first device is associated with a first workflow based on the first operation in the first message identifying the first workflow;

receiving a second message from a second device by the MDM service, wherein the second message includes a second operation to be performed that relates to the management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determining that the second operation in the second message is associated with a second workflow based on second message identifying the second workflow;

accessing the first workflow associated with the first device, wherein the desired operation in the message identifies the workflow on which the desired operation is to be performed, and wherein the first workflow is a sequence of blocks that perform actions for managing master data;

determining whether the first desired operation to be performed in the first message is valid;

when the first desired operation to be performed in the first message is valid, performing the first desired operation;

providing a first notification when the first desired operation is performed£

accessing the second workflow associated with the second device, wherein the second workflow is a sequence of blocks that perform actions for managing master data;

determining whether the second operation to be performed in the second message is valid;

when the second operation to be performed in the second message is valid, performing the second operation; and

providing a second notification when the second operation is performed.

12. The computer-readable storage memory device of claim 11, wherein the first operation is at least one of:

a change to a master data item; and

a modification to the first workflow; and

wherein the second operation is at least one of;

a change to a master data item; and

a modification to the second workflow.

13. The computer-readable storage memory device of claim 11, further comprising providing an Application Programming Interface (API) that is used to interact with the MDM service.

14. The computer-readable storage memory device of claim 13, wherein the API provides a public interface for subscribing to changes relating to master data;

sending changes relating to master data; and

modifying a block of at least the first workflow and the second workflow.

15. The computer-readable storage memory device of claim 11, wherein the API is used to set a constraint that is associated with at least one of the first workflow and the second workflow.

16. The computer-readable storage memory device of claim 11, wherein the blocks of the first and second workflow consist of an execution block, a conditional block, and a loop block.

17. A system for managing master data, comprising:

a network connection that is configured to connect to a network;

a processor, memory, and a computer-readable storage medium;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable storage medium and executing on the processor;

a first and second client application for interacting with master data; and

a cloud based Master Data Management (MDM) service that is configured to perform actions, comprising;

manage master data including changes to the master data for a plurality of clients;

receive a first message from the first client application that includes a first operation to be performed that relates to management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determine that the first operation to be performed in the first message received from the first client application is associated with a first workflow based on the first operation in the first message identifying the first workflow;

receive a second message from the second client application, wherein the second message includes a second operation to be performed that relates to the management of master data that is managed by the cloud based MDM service;

determine that the second operation in the second message is associated with a second workflow based on second message identifying the second workflow;

access the first workflow associated with the first client, wherein the first workflow is a sequence of blocks that perform actions for managing master data;

determine whether the first operation to be performed is valid;

when the first operation to be performed is valid, perform the first operation; and

provide a notification when the first operation is performed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first operation is at least one of:

a change to a master data item; and

a modification to the first workflow.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising providing an Application Programming Interface (API) that is used to interact with the MDM service.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the API provides a public interface for subscribing to changes relating to master data;

sending changes relating to master data; and

modifying a block of the first workflow.