Methods and systems for synchronizing data in a multi-tenant database environment

• US 9,141,684 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Hang, James, Levine, Susan S., Ziemann, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US14/629,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for synchronizing data in a database network system. These mechanisms and methods for synchronizing data in database network system can enable embodiments to provide users a synchronization button on a UI or synchronization field through an API for specifying data for synchronization. The ability of embodiments to provide users a synchronization button on a UI or synchronization field through an API for specifying data for synchronization can enable users to easily and efficiently change and update data in a database system.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing data in a multi-tenant database environment, the method comprising:

receiving at a host system, a request from a user system to initiate a workflow that accesses at least one of a first object and a second object, the host system, in response to the request to initiate the workflow, to synchronize the first object with the second object, the host system having a processor system including at least one processor and a memory system; and

as a result of the request, synchronizing, by the host system, the first object with the second object by at least

if a value stored in a first element of the first object changed,

determining, by the processor system, whether a second object is being synchronized to the first object;

if the second object is being synchronized to the first object, updating, by the host system, the second object, such that a second element that corresponds to the first element, but is in the second object, has a value that agrees with the value stored in the first element;

determining, by the host system, whether an error condition occurs; and

if the error condition is not detected, saving the updating in the memory system of the host system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating a price book of the first object with a price book of the second object if both the first object and second object do not have any values stored in the elements, the price book having a list of items, each item having an associated price.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing of the first object and second object includes at least deleting, updating, and inserting elements of the first object to agree with the second object, the deleting of elements includes at least removing data from fields from the first object to match a corresponding empty field from the second object, the inserting of elements includes at least adding data to fields of the first object to match a corresponding field containing data from the second object.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first object is an opportunity, the opportunity including at least data associated with selling products to a customer, the opportunity being stored, in a portion of the database dedicated to the tenant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second object is a quote, the quote including at least sales information given to a customer, the quote being stored in a portion of the database dedicated to the tenant.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first object is an opportunity and the second object is a quote, each having at least six elements, the elements including at least a quantity, a price, a discount, a service date, a revenue schedule, and a quantity schedule.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a user interface having a synchronization button to the user system, wherein receiving the request includes at least receiving an indication that the user selected the synchronize button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is made by designating, via an application programming interface, the first object and second object for synchronization.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the error condition is an attempt to perform a second synchronization within a single transaction.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for synchronizing data in a multi-tenant database environment that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

receive at a host system, a request from a user system to initiate a workflow that accesses at least one of a first object and a second object, the host system, in response to the request to initiate the workflow, to synchronize the first object with the second object, the host system having a processor system including at least one processor and a memory system; and

as a result of the request, synchronizing, by the host system, the first object with the second object by at least

if a value stored in a first element of the first object changed,

determining, by the processor system, whether a second object is being synchronized to the first object;

if the second object is being synchronized to the first object, updating, by the host system, the second object, such that a second element that corresponds to the first element, but is in the second object, has a value that agrees with the value stored in the first element;

determine, by the host system, whether an error condition occurs; and

if the error condition is not detected, saving the updating in the memory system of the host system.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to update a price book of the first object with a price book of the second object if both the first object and second object do not have any values stored in the elements, the price book having a list of items, each item having an associated price.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the synchronizing of the first object and second object includes at least deleting, updating, and inserting elements of the first object to agree with the second object, the deleting of elements includes at least removing data from fields from the first object to match a corresponding empty field from the second object, the inserting of elements includes at least adding data to fields of the first object to match a corresponding field containing data from the second object.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the first object is an opportunity, the opportunity including at least data associated with selling products to a customer, the opportunity being stored, in a portion of the database dedicated to the tenant.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the second object is a quote, the quote including at least sales information given to a customer, the quote being stored in a portion of the database dedicated to the tenant.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the first object is an opportunity and the second object is a quote, each having at least six elements, the elements including at least a quantity, a price, a discount, a service date, a revenue schedule, and a quantity schedule.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising sending a user interface having a synchronization button to the user system, wherein receiving the request includes at least receiving an indication that the user selected the synchronize button.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the request is made by designating, via an application programming interface, the first object and second object for synchronization.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the error condition is an attempt to perform a second synchronization within a single transaction.