Patents Assigned to salesforce.com, inc.
  • Patent number: 7904882
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for orchestrating a business process in a computer network. A script describing a business process is received from a client machine over the computer network. The script is compiled into executable program instructions. A reference to the script and data to be operated on by the script is received from the client machine over the computer network. The data is processed in accordance with the script. The result of the data processing is returned to the client machine over the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventor: Paul Hinks
  • Publication number: 20110029879
    Abstract: The invention teaches a method for creating and managing a website as an object oriented system, comprising: providing on a system server a plurality of hierarchical classes of objects, each of the classes representing one aspect of the storage, presentation and logic of a website; providing on a web server an interface operable to present representations of objects instantiating the plurality of hierarchical classes and receive commands meant to one of: instantiate a new object, destroy a presented object, and change a property of a presented object; and storing on a database server objects as a traversable tree in accordance with the plurality of hierarchical classes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Phil Calvin
  • Publication number: 20110023017
    Abstract: The invention teaches a method for creating and managing a website as an object oriented system, comprising: providing on a system server a plurality of hierarchical classes of objects, each of the classes representing one aspect of the storage, presentation and logic of a website; providing on a web server an interface operable to present representations of objects instantiating the plurality of hierarchical classes and receive commands meant to one of: instantiate a new object, destroy a presented object, and change a property of a presented object; and storing on a database server objects as a traversable tree in accordance with the plurality of hierarchical classes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Phil Calvin
  • Publication number: 20110004668
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for synchronizing a server and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for synchronizing a server and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to synchronize a larger amount of data. The ability of embodiments to provide such feature can enable more effective synchronization of a user-level sharing entity database with a multi-user on-demand database service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Greg Salmon, Chris Hopkins, Anant Verma, Jesse Collins, Craig Weissman
  • Publication number: 20100332447
    Abstract: The efficiency and versatility for the implementation of formulas in an on-demand database is improved. Formulas are categorized. Based at least partly on the categorization, formulas are evaluated synchronously or asynchronously. An asynchronous evaluation may be performed if a certain set of criteria is not satisfied. Asynchronous evaluations may be performed using a queue. During an asynchronous update of an object, a counter field and/or an estimate field may be used respectively for indicating the consistency of values of the object and a time when the values were consistent. The versatility of formulas is enhanced by using a formula to create a default value for a custom field when it is created and to determine whether an action is to be performed, and is enhanced by having an action define when a formula is to be updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Bezar, Doug Chasman, Dean Jacobs, Simon Wong
  • Publication number: 20100306536
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling the interchange of enterprise data through an open platform is disclosed. This open platform can be based on a standardized interface that enables parties to easily connect to and use the network. Services operating as senders, recipients, and in-transit parties can therefore leverage a framework that overlays a public network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Brouk, Kenneth Norton, Jason Douglas, Peter Panec
  • Publication number: 20100299664
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for pushing an application update between tenants of a multi-tenant on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for pushing an application update between tenants of a multi-tenant on-demand database service can enable tenants providing the application update to force instances of the application utilized by other tenants to be updated. This may allow the tenants providing the application update to ensure that instances of the application utilized by other tenants are updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: James Taylor, Andrew Smith, Craig Weissman
  • Publication number: 20100299663
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for versioning components of an application. These mechanisms and methods for versioning components of an application can ensure that an updated application maintains backwards compatibility, such that the application developer may maintain a single application while supporting multiple prior versions of the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Craig Weissman, Andrew Smith
  • Publication number: 20100299608
    Abstract: A sharing model enables users to easily and conveniently create and share standard and custom database objects, and applications, among users or groups of users. The sharing model includes systems and methods that allow users to conveniently create and customize tabs and tab sets that define relationships between custom objects and fields, standard objects and fields, and applications. A tab visually represents a user interface into an element of an application or into a database object. Selection of a tab provides a user access to the object or element of the application represented by the tab. A tab set is a group of related tabs that work as a unit to provide application functionality. New tabs and tab sets may be defined and tab set views may be customized so that an end user can easily and conveniently switch between the various objects and application elements represented by the displayed tabs and tab set views.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Steve Fisher, Eric David Bezar, Adam Gross, Ian Swinson, George Hu, Yoshiyuki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7840413
    Abstract: A method and system is provided having a webpage for posting ideas integrated with on-demand customer relationship management. The website associated with the page may be stored in a tenant area of a multitenant database to facilitate maintaining multiple websites for different tenants. A webpage may be sent to a client that includes a plurality of sections, each including at least one idea related to an improvement of a product. Votes may be received for at least one of the plurality of sections. A determination may be made of a Total Qualitative Management Criterion (TQMC) for each section of the website, by applying an increasing function of time to newer votes to enable relative weightings of older votes to diminish over time without requiring computing a decaying time function to determine weightings for each vote. A product modification may be determined based on the TQMC for each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Salesforce.Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Norimasa Yoshida, Justin Lin, Likuo Lin
  • Patent number: 7836019
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service can enable embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking of whether one of the shared documents was changed. The ability of embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking can enable a safeguard that a user knows whether the document that they have in their possession is the most recent version. In an embodiment, the shared documents are stored in a document management storage. In an embodiment, each file has an ID that includes version information for checking whether the document is the most recent version. In an embodiment, an application is downloaded onto the user system that automatically upon opening a document checks whether a document is the most recent version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Barker, Ryan Lissack, Daniel L Pletter
  • Patent number: 7831455
    Abstract: A site is maintained that allows consumers to suggest, comment on and/or vote on ideas about a product or service. Some site embodiments can enable sponsoring organizations (customers) to maintain their own sites for displaying articles and allowing multiple viewers to vote on these articles. Site information for multiple tenants may be maintained in a common multi-tenant system. Votes may indicate a variety of different types of criteria, such as the importance, correctness, and/or user preference for the articles or other Qualitative Management Criteria (QMC) for determining the merit of an idea or an article. The votes may be tallied into an overall Total Qualitative Management Criterion (TQMC) for the idea or article. Newer votes may be adjusted according to an increasing function of time to enable the relative weightings of the older votes to diminish over time without having to compute a decaying time function to determine weightings for each vote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Norimasa Yoshida, Justin Lin, Likuo Lin
  • Publication number: 20100281014
    Abstract: More efficient querying of a multi-tenant database using dynamic tuning of database indices. A layer of meta-data associates data items with tenants, e.g., via tags, and the meta-data is used to optimize searches by channeling processing resources during a query to only those pieces of data bearing the relevant tenant's unique tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Weissman, Dave Moellenhoff, Simon Wong, Paul Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100281016
    Abstract: More efficient querying of a multi-tenant database using dynamic tuning of database indices. A layer of meta-data associates data items with tenants, e.g., via tags, and the meta-data is used to optimize searches by channeling processing resources during a query to only those pieces of data bearing the relevant tenant's unique tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SALESFORCE.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Weissman, Dave Moellenhoff, Simon Wong, Paul Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100281015
    Abstract: More efficient querying of a multi-tenant database using dynamic tuning of database indices. A layer of meta-data associates data items with tenants, e.g., via tags, and the meta-data is used to optimize searches by channeling processing resources during a query to only those pieces of data bearing the relevant tenant's unique tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Weissman, Dave Moellenhoff, Simon Wong, Paul Nakada
  • Patent number: 7827138
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for synchronizing a server and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for synchronizing a server and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to synchronize a larger amount of data. The ability of embodiments to provide such feature can enable more effective synchronization of a user-level sharing entity database with a multi-user on-demand database service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Greg Salmon, Chris Hopkins, Anant Verma, Jesse Collins, Craig Weissman
  • Publication number: 20100274779
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency that includes a method that stores the information on the database among a plurality of tables arranged in columns and rows. For each of a subset of the plurality of tables, sets of the rows are distributed amongst different storage nodes on the database, with the set of rows stored at a common node having a common index value. Data storage and retrieval capabilities to the database are provided to allow access to the information, in response to requests from one of a plurality of remotely disposed computer systems. The retrieval capability includes a query condition that includes a query index value, with the query condition and the query index value being established to control retrieval latency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Weissman, Dave Moellenhoff, Simon Wong, Paul Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100268740
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service can enable embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking of whether one of the shared documents was changed. The ability of embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking can enable a safeguard that a user knows whether the document that they have in their possession is the most recent version. In an embodiment, the shared documents are stored in a document management storage. In an embodiment, each file has an ID that includes version information for checking whether the document is the most recent version. In an embodiment, an application is downloaded onto the user system that automatically upon opening a document checks whether a document is the most recent version.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Salesforce.com Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Barker, Ryan Lissack, Daniel L. Pletter
  • Patent number: 7818194
    Abstract: A method for automatically reconfiguring a webpage is provided. The web page may include a plurality of sections, and each section may include at least one aspect related to a particular topic, such as customer support and an option for casting a vote for a topic posted. A vote may be received vote for at least one of the plurality of sections. A Total Qualitative Management Criterion (TQMC) may be determined for each section of the website. An increasing function of time may be applied to newer votes to enable relative weightings of older votes to diminish over time without requiring computing a decaying time function to determine weightings for each vote. The webpage may be reconfigured based on ranking the sections according to the TQMC for each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Norimasa Yoshida, Justin Lin, Likuo Lin, Kingsley Jeegan Joseph
  • Patent number: D630302
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel Santiago Ambriz