Shared data sets combined with user-specific purchased data sets

• US 9,141,983 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharma, Anshu
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, MONICA M
• Application Number:
  US13/748,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 707/769, 707/770, 707/781, 705/26, 705/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for shared data sets combined with purchased data sets in an on-line services environment. In one embodiment, a method includes, identifying a user, associating the user with data in a shared database, and receiving a purchased dataset from the identified user. The method further includes adding the purchased dataset to a delta table associated with the shared database based on determined record relationships and field relationship, and providing access to the purchased dataset to the user through requests for data in the shared database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying a user;

associating the user with data in a shared database, the shared database being shared by multiple users having access to different subsets of the data in the shared database;

receiving a purchased dataset from the identified user, wherein the purchased dataset comprises multiple child data sets related to a particular fields of the shared database;

determining relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database;

determining relationships between fields of the purchased dataset and fields of the shared database;

adding the purchased dataset to a delta tune associated with the slanted database based on the determined record relationships and field relationships;

storing the delta table for the identified user;

adding references to the shared, database to provide access to the delta table;

providing access to the purchased dataset stored in the delta table to the user through requests for data in the shared database;

receiving a second purchased data set from the identified user;

adding the second purchased dataset to the delta table; and

simultaneously providing access to the first and second purchased datasets through request for data in the shared database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database are based on custom objects.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the custom objects are preconfigured.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the purchased dataset has built-in relationships to the shared database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchased dataset is purchased from a third party through a shared online dataset marketplace.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining parameters of the shared database, the database being maintained by a database administrator;

offering a dataset related to the data of the shared database in a marketplace;

providing access to the offered dataset to a customer that has access to the shared database; and

providing the offered dataset and an identification of the customer to the database administrator.

7. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored ˜

hereon that, when operated on by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising;

identifying a user;

associating the user with data in a shared database, the shared database being shared by multiple users having access to different subsets of the data in the shared database;

receiving a purchased dataset from the identified user, wherein the purchased dataset comprises multiple child data sets related to a particular fields of the shared database;

determining relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database;

determining relationships between fields of the purchased dataset and fields of the shared database;

adding the purchased dataset to a delta tune associated with the slanted database based on the determined record relationships and field relationships;

storing the delta table for the identified user;

adding references to the shared, database to provide access to the delta table;

providing access to the purchased dataset stored in the delta table to the user through requests for data in the shared database;

receiving a second purchased data set from the identified user;

adding the second purchased dataset to the delta table; and

simultaneously providing access to the first and second purchased datasets through request for data in the shared database.

8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database are based on custom objects.

9. The medium of claim 7, wherein the relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database are preconfigured.

10. The medium of claim 7, wherein the purchased dataset has built-in relationships to the shared database between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database.

11. The medium of claim 7, wherein the purchased dataset is purchased from a third party through a shared online dataset marketplace.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a shared database containing data as records and fields for a plurality of different users, the shared database being shared by multiple users having access to different subsets of the data in the shared database;

a stored delta table containing modifications to data in the shared database for particular users;

an application server to identify a user, to associate the user with data in the shared database, and to receive a purchased dataset from the identified user, wherein the purchased dataset comprises multiple child data sets related to a particular fields of the shared database;

a tenant management process to determine relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database, to determine relationships between fields of the purchased dataset and fields of the shared database, to add the purchased dataset to the delta table associated with the shared database based on the determined record relationships and field relationships, to store the delta table for the identified user, and to add references to the shared database to provide access to the delta table; and

a user interface to provide access to the purchased dataset to the user through requests for data in the shared database;

the tenant management system further to receive a second purchased data set from the identified user, to add the second purchased dataset to the delta table, and simultaneously provide access to the first and second purchased datasets through requests for data in the shared database.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the shared database comprises a plurality of custom objects and wherein the relationships between records of the purchased dataset and records of the shared database are based on custom objects.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the custom objects are preconfigured.