Optimization engine in a multi-tenant database system

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.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a customer relationship management database having one or more data tables; and   an optimization engine which reads data from at least one of the one or more data tables and which stores the data in the customer relationship management database;   wherein the data is tracked in order to gather statistical information to make choices about query access paths.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the statistical information includes a number of rows to which a user has access. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer relationship management database structure is fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is a multi-tenant database system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the multi-tenant database system is configured to keep tenant's data separate unless the data is shared. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer relationship management database contains a plurality of customizable fields. 
     
     
         7 . A computer program product, comprising:
 computer code for reading data from one or more data tables of a customer relationship management database; and   computer code for storing the data in the customer relationship management database;   wherein the computer program product is operable such that the data is tracked in order to gather statistical information to make choices about query access paths.   
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the statistical information includes a number of rows to which a user has access. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the customer relationship management database structure is fixed. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the computer program product is implemented in a multi-tenant database system. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-tenant database system is configured to keep tenant's data separate unless the data is shared. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the customer relationship management database contains a plurality of customizable fields. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 reading data from one or more data tables of a customer relationship management database; and   storing the data in the customer relationship management database;   wherein the computer program product is operable such that the data is tracked in order to gather statistical information to make choices about query access paths.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the statistical information includes a number of rows to which a user has access. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the customer relationship management database structure is fixed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computer program product is implemented in a multi-tenant database system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-tenant database system is configured to keep tenant's data separate unless the data is shared. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the customer relationship management database contains a plurality of customizable fields.